4 Such guests shall to thy courts be led,
To banquet on thy love's repast;
And drink, as from a fountain's head,
Of joys that shall forever last.
Paternal Providence of God.
1 THROUGH all the various shifting scene Of life's mistaken ill or good,
Thy hand, O God! conducts unseen
The beautiful vicissitude.
2 Thou givest with paternal care, Howe'er unjustly we complain, To all their necessary share
Of joy and sorrow, health and pain.
3 All things on earth, and all in heaven, On thine eternal will depend;
And all for greater good were given, Would man pursue the appointed end.
4 Be this my care!-to all beside Indifferent let my wishes be;
Passion be calm, and dumb be pride, And fixed my soul, Great God! on thee.
The Books of Nature and Scripture. Ps. 19.
1 BEHOLD! the lofty sky
Declares its Maker, God;
And all his starry works on high
Proclaim his power abroad.
2 The darkness and the light
Still keep their course the same;
While night to day, and day to night,
Divinely teach his name.
3 In every different land
Their general voice is known; They show the wonders of his hand, And orders of his throne.
4 Ye Christian lands, rejoice!
Here he reveals his word;
We are not left to nature's voice
To bid us know the Lord.
5 His statutes and commands
Are set before our eyes;
He puts his gospel in our hands,
Where our salvation lies.
6 While of thy works I sing,
Thy glory to proclaim,
Accept the praise, my God, my King, In my Redeemer's name.
The Books of Nature and Scripture. Ps. 19.
1 THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord!
In every star thy wisdom shines;
But, when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines.
2 The rolling sun, the changing light,
And nights and days thy power confess;
But the blest volume thou hast writ
Reveals thy justice and thy grace.
3 Sun, moon and stars convey thy praise
Round the whole earth, and never stand;
So when thy truth began its race,
It touched and glanced on every land.
4 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest
Till through the world thy truth has run;
Till Christ has all the nations blest,
That see the light, or feel the sun.
5 Great Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Bless the dark world with heavenly light;
Thy gospel makes the simple wise;
Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.
6 Thy noblest wonders here we view,
In souls renewed, and sins forgiven:
Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew,
And make thy word my guide to heaven.
God's perfect Law. Ps. 19.
1 God's perfect law converts the soul,
Reclaims from false desires;
With sacred wisdom his sure word
The ignorant inspires.
2 The statutes of the Lord are just,
And bring sincere delight;
His pure commands in search of truth
Assist the feeblest sight.
3 His perfect worship here is fixed,
On sure foundations laid;
His equal laws are in the scales
Of truth and justice weighed.
4 But what frail man observes how oft He does from virtue fall?
O! cleanse me from my secret faults,
Thou God, that know'st them all.
5 Let no presumptuous sin, O Lord,
Dominion have o'er me;
That, by thy grace preserved, I may
The great transgression flee.
Perfection of the Law and Testimony. Ps. 19.
1 THY law is perfect, Lord of light,
Thy testimonies sure;
The statutes of thy realm are right,
And thy commandment pure.
2 Let these, O God, my soul convert,
And make thy servant wise:
Let these be gladness to my ears,
The dayspring to mine eyes.
3 By these may I be warned betimes;
Who knows the guile within?
Lord, save me from presumptuous crimes,
Cleanse me from secret sin.
4 So may the words my lips express,
The thoughts that throng my mind,
O Lord, my strength and righteousness,
With thee acceptance find.
L. M. 61. SPIRIT OF THE PSALMS. Praise to God for his Word. Ps. 56.
1 JOIN, all ye servants of the Lord,
To praise him for his sacred word,
That word like manna, sent from heaven,
To all who seek it freely given:
Its promises our fears remove,
And fill our hearts with joy and love.
2 It tells us, though oppressed with cares,
The God of mercy hears our prayers;
Though steep and rough the appointed way,
His mighty arm shall be our stay;
Though deadly foes assail our peace,
His power shall bid their malice cease.
3 It tells who first inspired our breath,
And who redeemed our souls from death;
It tells of grace, grace freely given,
And shows the path to God and heaven :
O bless we then our gracious Lord,
For all the treasures of his word!
|