GOD IN HIS TENDER MERCY.

3 Who send'st thy storms and frosts to bind
The plagues that rise to waste mankind;
That breathest o'er the naked scene
Spring gales, and life, and tender green,

4 Yet deem we not that thus alone
Thy mercy and thy love are shown;
For we have learned, with higher praise,
And holier names, to speak thy ways.

5 In woe's dark hour, our kindest stay!
Sole trust when life shall pass away!
Teacher of hopes that light the gloom
Of death, and consecrate the tomb !

6 Patient with headstrong guilt to bear
Slow to avenge, and kind to spare;
Listening to prayer, and reconciled
Full quickly to thy erring child.

W. C. BRYANT, 1836.

7 M.

Daily mercies.

47.

I TENDER mercies, on my way
Falling softly like the dew,

Sent me freshly every day,
I will bless the Lord for you.

2 Though I have not all I would,
Though to greater bliss I go,
Every present gift of good
To eternal Love I owe.

3 Source of all that comforts me,
Well of joy for which I long,
Let the song I sing to thee
Be an everlasting song.

ANNA L. WARING, 1850.

48.

The Creator, God.

LORD, when thou saidst,

C. M. D.

"So let it be,"

The heavens were spread and shone,
And this whole earth stood gloriously;
Thou spak'st and it was done!
The whole creation still records,
Unto this very day,

That thou art God, the Lord of Lords;
Thee all things must obey.

ZINZENDORF, 1740:

tr. C. G. CLEMENS, 1769.

49. Homage to God from his works. Ps. 148.

I

HERALDS of creation! cry;

7 M.

Praise the Lord, the Lord most high;

Heaven and earth! obey the call;

Praise the Lord, the Lord of all.

2 For he spake, and forth from night
Sprang the universe to light;
He commanded ;-nature heard,
And stood fast upon his word.

3 Praise him, all ye hosts above,
Spirits perfected in love!

Sun and moon, your voices raise;
Sing, ye stars, your Maker's praise !

4 Earth! from all thy depths below,
Ocean's hallelujahs flow;

Lightning, vapour, wind and storm,
Hail and snow, his will perform.

5 Vales and mountains, burst in song;
Rivers, roll with praise along!
Birds, on wings of rapture soar,
Warble at his temple-door!

GOD THE CREATOR.

6 High above all height his throne ;
Excellent his name alone :
Him let all his works confess;
Him let every being bless.

J. MONTGOMERY, 1822.

L. M. D. "The heavens declare the glory of

I

God." Ps. 19.

THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great original proclaim.

The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Doth his Creator's power display;

And publishes to every land
The work of an almighty hand.

2 Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth;

50.

Whilst all the stars which round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,

Confirm the tidings as they roll,

And spread the truth from pole to pole.

3 What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball;
What though nor real voice nor sound
Amidst their radiant orbs be found;
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
For ever singing as they shine,
"The hand that made us is divine.'

"

J. ADDISON, 1712.

D

51.

I

I

The glory of God in the world.

SING the almighty power of God,
That made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies.

2 I sing the wisdom that ordained
The sun to rule the day;

The moon shines full at his command,
And all the stars obey.

3 I sing the goodness of the Lord,
That filled the earth with food;
He formed the creatures with his word,
And then pronounced them good.

4 Lord, how thy wonders are displayed,
Where'er I turn mine eye!

If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the sky!

5 There's not a plant or flower below
But makes thy glories known;
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from thy throne.

6 His hand is my perpetual guard;
He keeps me with his eye;

52.

I

Why should I then forget the Lord,
Who is for ever nigh?

C. M.

I. WATTS, 1715.

Universal praise to God. Ps. 148.
LET every creature join

Το praise the eternal God;

Ye heavenly hosts, the song begin,
And sound his name abroad.

S. M

GOD GLORIFIED BY HIS WORKS.

2 Thou sun with golden beams,
And moon with paler rays,
Ye starry lights, ye twinkling flames,
Shine to your Maker's praise.

3

4

5

Ye vapours, when ye rise,

Or fall in showers or snow,

Ye thunders, murmuring round the skies,
His power and glory show.

Wind, hail, and flashing fire,
Agree to praise the Lord,

When ye in dreadful storms conspire
To execute his word.

By all his works above

His honours be exprest;

But they who know his heavenly love
Should sing his praises best.

I. Watts, 1719.

53.

S. M.

I

2

3

4

Nature's praise to God.

ALMIGHTY Maker, God!

How wondrous is thy name;
Thy glories how diffused abroad,
Through the creation's frame !
Nature in every dress

Her humble homage pays;

And finds a thousand ways to express
Her undissembled praise.

In native white and red,

The rose and lily stand,

And free from pride their beauties spread,
To show thy skilful hand.

The lark mounts up the sky,

With unambitious song,

And bears his Maker's praise on high,

Upon an artless tongue.