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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