§ II. OF GENERAL PRAYER AND PRAISE.

24.

P. M.

DODDRIDGE.

Hymn of praise. 1 O PRAISE ye the Lord ! prepare a new song ;

And let all his saints in full concert join :
With voices united the anthem prolong,

And show forth his praises with music divine. 2 Let praise to the Lord, who made us, ascend;

Let each grateful heart be glad in its king : The God whom we worship our songs will

attend, And view with complacence, the off'ring we

bring. 3 Be joyful, ye saints, sustain'd by his might,

And let your glad songs awake with each

morn:

For those who obey him are still his delight,

His hand with salvation the meek will adorn. 4 Then praise ye the Lord! prepare a glad

song ; And let all liis saints in full concert join : With voices united the anthem prolong, And show forth his praises with music divine.

L. M.

25.

DYER.

Hymn to the Deity. 1 GREATEST of beings, source of life,

Sov’reign of air, and earth, and sea! All nature feels thy pow'r, and all

A silent, homage pay to thee. 2 Wak'd by thy hand, the morning sun

Pours forth to thee its earlier rays, And spreads thy glories as it climbs;

While raptur'd worlds look up and praise. 3 The moon to the deep shades of night

Speaks the mild lustre of thy name; While all the stars that cheer the scene

Thee, the great Lord of light, proclaim. 4 And groves, and vales, and rocks, and hills,

And ev'ry flower, and every tree,
Ten thousand creatures, warm with life,

Have each a grateful song for thee. 5 But man was form'd to rise to heav'n :

And, blest with reason's clearer light, He views his maker thro’ his works,

And glows with rapture at the sight. 6 Nor can the thousand songs that rise,

Whether from air, or earth, or sea, So well repeat Jehovah's praise,

Or raise such sacred harmony.

L. M.

26.

DYER.

The same subject. 1 GREATEST of beings, source of life,

Sov’reign of air, of earth, and sea!

All nature feels thy pow'r; but man

A grateful tribute pays to thee. 2 Subject to wants, to thee he looks,

And from thy goodness seeks supplies : And when opprest with guilt he mourns,

Thy mercy lifts bim to the skies. 3 Children, whose little minds, unform’d,

Ne'er rais'd a tender thought to heav'n ; And men, whom reason lifts to God,

Tho' oft by passion downward driv'n: 4 Those too, who bend with age

and

Ye creatures of his hand,
Your highest notes of praise :

Let every voice
Proclaim his pow'r,
Ilis name adore,

And loud rejoice. 2 Thou source of light and heat,

Bright soy’reign of the day,
Dispensing blessings round,
With all-diffusive

ray ;
From morn to night,
With ev'ry beam,
Record bis name,

Who made thee bright. 3 Fair regent of the night,

With all thy starry train,
Which rise in silent hosts,
To gild the azure plain ;

With countless rays
Declare his name,
Prolong the theme,

Reflect his praise.
4 Let all the creatures join,

To celebrate his name,
And all their various powers
Assist th' exalted theme.

Let nature raise
From every tongue
A general song

Of grateful praise. 5 But oh! from human tongues

Should nobler praises flow;

1 High in the heavens, eternal God,

Thy goodness in full glory shines; Thy truth shall break through ev'ry cloud

Which veils and darkens thy designs. 2 Thy justice like the hills remains,

Unfathom’d depths thy mercies are ;
Thy providence the world sustains;

All that thou'st form’d, are still thy care. 3 Since of thy goodness all partake,

With what assurance may the just Thy shelt'ring wings their refuge make,

And saints to thy protection trust.
4 Such guests shall to thy courts be led,

To banquet on thy love's repast,
And drink, as from the fountain head,

Of joys which shall forever last. 5 O let thy saints thy favour gain,

To upright hearts thy truth display,
With whom the springs of life remain,

Whose presence is eternal day.