THE nations all whom thou hast made
Shall come, and all shall frame
To bow them low before thee, Lord,
And glorify thy name.
Truth from the earth, like to a flower, Shall bud and blossom then;
And Justice from her heav'nly bower Look down on mortal men.
For great thou art, and wonders great
By thy strong hand are done;
Thou in thine everlasting seat
Remainest God alone.
O! I would sing a song of praise,
Natural as the breeze
That stirs amongst the forest-trees,
Whisp❜ring ever,
Summer's prime or wintry days—
So should come my song of praise.
O! I would sing a song of praise,
Sweet as breathing flowers,
That ope to greet the earlier hours;
Never-ending
Up, to bless their parent rays-
So should wake my song of praise.
O! I would sing a song of praise,
Holy as the night,
When heaven comes to us in the light
Of stars, whose gleaming,
Influence streaming,
Draws us upward while we gaze—
So should rise my song of praise.
To thee, O God, a song of praise, With breeze, and bloom, and star, To thee, who made us what we are— Blessed Spirit!
All from thee; then let us raise
Songs of praise-immortal praise!
I WILL sing to the Lord
As long as I live.
I will sing praise to my God
While I have my being.
O that my meditation
May be grateful unto him!
PART in peace! is day before us?
Praise his name for life and light;
Are the shadows lengthening o'er us?
Bless his care who guards the night.
Part in peace! with deep thanksgiving,
Rendering, as we homeward tread,
Gracious service to the living,
Tranquil memory to the dead.
Part in peace! such are the praises
God our Maker loveth best;
Such the worship that upraises
Human hearts to heavenly rest.
Hallelujah! Amen.
As vapours to the earth in showers return;
As the pois'd ocean towards th' attracting moon
Swells; and the ever-listening planets, charmed
By the sun's call, their onward pace incline:
So all things which have life aspire to God,
Centre of souls! Nor doth the mastering voice
Of Nature cease within to prompt aright
Their steps; nor is the care of Heaven withheld
From sending to the toil external aid;
That, in their stations, all may persevere
To climb the ascent of being, and approach.
For ever nearer to the LIfe divine.
O THAT I had wings like a dove!
Then would I flee away, and be at rest.
As for me, I will call upon God,
And he will save me.
Evening, and morning, and at noon,
Will I pray and cry aloud;
And he will hear my voice.
NEARER, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me:
Still all my song would be,
Nearer, my God, to thee-
Nearer to thee!
Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God, to thee—
Nearer to thee!
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