4 Since thou wilt hearken to my prayer, Again the face of joy I wear:
Thy strength my fainting spirit cheers, And checks my griefs, and calms my fears. 5 With what delight, great God, I trace The acts of thy stupendous grace! To count them, were to count the sand That lies upon the sea-beat strand.
51. C. M. ADDISON.
Gratitude to God.
1 WHEN all thy mercies, O my God!
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.
2 Thy providence my life sustain❜d,
And all my wants redress'd,
When in the silent womb I lay,
Or hung upon the breast.
3 To all my weak complaints and cries
Thy mercy lent an ear,
Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learnt
To form themselves in prayer.
4 Unnumber'd comforts on my soul
Thy tender care bestow'd,
Before my infant heart conceiv'd
From whom those comforts flow'd.
5 When in the slipp'ry paths of youth
With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm, unseen, convey'd me safe,
And led me up to man.
6 Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths, It gently clear'd my way;
And through the pleasing snares of vice,
More to be fear'd than they.
7 When nature fails, and day and night
Divide thy works no more;
My ever grateful heart, O Lord!
Thy mercy shall adore.
10 How shall words, with equal warmth,
The gratitude declare,
That glows in my enraptur'd heart!—
But thou canst read it there.
2 Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss
Hath made my cup run o'er;
And, in a kind and faithful friend,
Hath doubled all my store.
3 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
Which tastes those gifts with joy.
4 When worn by sickness, oft hast thou
With health renew'd my face;
And, when in sins and sorrows sunk,
Reviv'd my soul with grace.
5 Through ev'ry period of my life
'Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And after death, in unknown worlds,
The glorious theme renew.
6 Through all eternity to thee
A joyful song I'll raise-
For oh! eternity alone
Can utter all thy praise.
Thanksgiving and praise.
1 My soul, praise the Lord,
Speak good of his name!
His mercies record,
His bounties proclaim :
To God, their creator,
Let all creatures raise
The song of thanksgiving,
The chorus of praise!
2 Though, hid from man's sight,
God sits on his throne,
Yet here by his works
Their author is known:
The world shines a mirror
Its maker to show,
And heav'n views its image
Reflected below.
3 Those agents of pow'r,
Fire, water, earth, sky,
Attest the dread might
Of God the most high:
Who rides on the whirlwind
While clouds veil his form;
Who smiles in the sunbeam,
Or frowns in the storm.
4 By knowledge supreme,
By wisdom divine,
God governs this earth
With gracious design:
O'er beast, bird, and insect,
His providence reigns,
Whose will first created,
Whose love still sustains.
5 And man, his last work,
With reason endu❜d,
Who, falling through sin,
By grace is renew'd;
To God, his creator,
Let man ever raise
The song of thanksgiving,
The chorus of praise!
54. L. M. WATTS.
God ever to be praised.
1 My God! my King! thy various praise
Shall fill the remnant of my days;
Thy grace employ my humble tongue,
Till death and glory raise the song.
2 The wings of ev'ry hour shall bear
Some thankful tribute to thine ear;
And ev'ry setting sun shall see
New works of duty done for thee.
3 Thy promise truth eternal guides,
And mercy o'er each act presides :
Thee good and kind shall mortals owe,
To anger slow, to pity prone.
4 Their humble pray'r, in each distress;
To thee thy servants, Lord, address,
And find thee, verging on the grave,
Nor slow to hear, nor weak to save.
5 Let distant times and nations raise
The long succession of thy praise;
And unborn ages make my song
The joy and labour of their tongue.
Dependence upon Providence.
10 LORD of earth and seas and skies!
Thy wealth the needy world supplies;
All that is good thou canst supply,
And put all threat'ning evil by.
2 Should wars on ev'ry side invade, We'll shelter seek beneath thy shade; Confide in thy paternal care,
Nor want, nor harm, nor danger fear. 3 The wastes of life thy power repairs; Thy mercy stills tempestuous cares; And yielding all our lives to thee, We'll with their lot contented be.
4 Nor to the human race alone
Is thy paternal goodness shown;
The tribes of earth, and sea, and air,
Enjoy thy universal care.
5 Not ev❜n a sparrow yields its breath,
Till God permit the stroke of death:
He hears the ravens when they call,
The Father and the Friend of all!
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