§ II. OF GENERAL PRAYER AND 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
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 his saints in full concert join :
With voices united the anthem prolong,
And show forth his praises with music divine.
25. L. M. 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. 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 him 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 care,
And faint and tremble near the tomb;
Who, sick'ning at the present scenes,
Sigh for that better state to come :—
5 All, great Creator! all are thine;
All feel thy providential care;
And thro' each varying scene of life
Alike thy constant pity share.
6 And whether grief oppress the heart,
Or whether joy elate the breast;
Or life still keep its little course,
Or death invite the heart to rest:
7 All are thy messengers, and all
Thy sacred pleasure, Lord, obey:
And all are training man to dwell
Nearer to bliss, and nearer thee.
H. M. MRS. STEELE.
Grateful praise..
1 To your creator God,
Your great preserver, raise,
Ye creatures of his hand,
Your highest notes of praise:
Let every voice
Proclaim his pow'r,
His name adore,
And loud rejoice.
2 Thou source of light and heat,
Bright sov'reign of the day,
Dispensing blessings round,
With all-diffusive ray;
From morn to night,
With ev'ry beam,
Record his 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.
|