3 Shall Man, the lord of nature, expectant of the sky, Shall Man, alone unthankful, his little praise deny? No; let the year forsake his course, the seasons cease to be,
Thee, Father, must we always love, and, Master, honour Thee.
4 The flowers of Spring may wither, the hope of Summer fade;
The Autumn droop in Winter, the birds forsake the shade;
The winds be lulled, the Sun and Moon forget their old decree,
But we, in Nature's latest hour, O God! will cling to Thee.
1 Day-spring of Eternity!
Dawn on us this morning-tide:
Light from Light's exhaustless sea,
Now no more Thy radiance hide:
But dispel with glorious might
All our night.
2 Let the morning dew of love
On our sleeping conscience rain;
Gentle comfort from above
Flow through life's long parched plain;
Water daily us Thy flock
3 Let the glow of love destroy
Cold obedience faintly given;
Wake our hearts to strength and joy
With the flushing eastern heaven;
Let us truly rise ere yet
4 Brightest Star of eastern skies,
Let that final morn appear,
When our bodies too shall rise,
Free from all that pained them here,-
Strong their joyful course to run
As the Sun.
5 To yon world be Thou our light,
O Thou glorious Sun of grace;
Lead us through the tearful night,
To yon fair and blessed place,
Where to joy that never dies
We shall rise!
1 Eternal Source of every joy!
Well may Thy praise our lips employ,
While in Thy temple we appear,
Whose goodness crowns the circling year.
2 Wide as the wheels of Nature roll,
Thy hand supports the steady pole;
By Thee the sun is taught to rise,
And darkness when to veil the skies.
3 The flowery Spring, at Thy command,
Embalms the air and paints the land;
The Summer rays with vigour shine,
To raise the corn and cheer the vine.
4 Thy hand in Autumn richly pours
O'er all the earth abundant stores;
And Winters, softened by Thy care,
No more a face of horror wear.
5 Seasons and months, and weeks and days,
Demand successive songs of praise:
Still be the cheerful homage paid,
With opening light and evening shade.
6 O may our more harmonious tongues
In worlds unknown pursue the songs,
And in those brighter courts adore,
Where days and years revolve no more.
1 Thou, God, art a consuming fire,
Yet mortals may find grace,
From toil and tumult to retire,
And meet Thee face to face.
2 Though "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord!"
Seraph to seraph sings,
And angel-choirs with one accord
Worship with veiling wings;-
3 Though earth Thy footstool, heaven Thy throne, Thy way amidst the sea,
Thy path deep floods, Thy steps unknown,
Thy counsels mystery;—
4 Yet wilt Thou look on him who lies
A suppliant at Thy feet;
And hearken to the feeblest cries
That reach Thy mercy-seat.
5 Between the cherubim of old
Thy glory was expressed;
But God, through Christ, we now behold
In flesh made manifest.
6 Through him, who all our sickness felt,
Who all our sorrows bare,
Through him, in whom Thy fulness dwelt,
We offer up our prayer.
1 Holy as Thou, O Lord, is none!
Thy holiness is all Thine own;
A drop of that unbounded sea
Is ours, a drop derived from Thee.
2 And when Thy purity we share,
Only Thy glory we declare;
And humbled into nothing own,
Holy and pure is God alone.
3 Sole self-existent God and Lord,
By all the heavenly hosts adored!
Let all on earth bow down to Thee,
And own Thy peerless majesty.
1 O Lord, our King, how excellent
Thy name on earth is known !
Thy glory in the firmament
How wonderfully shown!
2 Yet are the humble dear to Thee!
Thy praises are confessed
By infants lisping at the knee,
And nurselings at the breast.
3 When I behold the heavens on high,
The work of Thy right hand;
The moon and stars amid the sky,
Thy lights in every land;
4 Lord! what is Man, that Thou should'st deign On him to set Thy love,
Give him on earth awhile to reign,
Then fill a throne above?
5 O Lord, how excellent Thy name!
How manifold Thy ways!
Let Time Thy saving truth proclaim,
Eternity Thy praise!
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