Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

4 He fees the mind, when loft it lies
In fhades of ignorance and vice;
And darts from heav'n a vivid ray,
And changes midnight into day.
5 Shine, mighty God, with vigour shine
On this benighted heart of mine;
And let thy glories ftand reveal'd,
As in the Saviour's face beheld..

6 My foul, reviv'd by heav'n-born day,
Thy radiant image shall display,
While all my faculties unite

To praise the Lord, who gives me light.

DODDRIDGE..

XXII. God's wonderous works.

1 E fons of men, with joy record

Lord;

And let his power and goodnefs found,
Thro' all your tribes the earth around.
2 Let the high heav'ns your fongs invite,
Thofe fpacious fields of brilliant light;
Where fun, and moon, and planets roll,
And ftars, that glow from pole to pole.
3 Sing, earth, in verdant robes array'd,
Its herbs and flow'rs its fruit and shade;
Peopled with life of various forms,
Fishes and fowl, and beafts and worms.
4 View the broad fea's majeftic plains,
And think how wide its maker reigns;
That band remoteft nations joins,
And on each wave his goodness fhines.
5 But O! that brighter world above,
Where lives and reigns incarnate Love!
God's only fon in flesh array'd,
For man a bleeding victim made.

6 Thither, my foul, with rapture foar;
There in the land of praise adore ;
This theme demands an angel's lay,
Demands an undeclining day.

I

GR

DODDRIDGE.

XXIII. Storms and afflictions.

REAT Ruler of all nature's frame,
We own thy pow'r divine:

We hear thy breath in ev'ry storm,
For all the winds are thine.

2 Wide as they sweep their founding way,
They work thy fov'reign will;'
And, aw'd by thy majestic voice,
Confufion fhall be still.

3 Thy mercy tempers ev'ry blaft
To them that feek thy face;
And mingles with the tempeft's roar
The whifpers of thy grace

4 Thofe gentle whispers let me hear,
Till all the tumults cease;
And gales of Paradife fhall footh
My weary foul to peace.

DODDRIDGE

XXIV. The God of Thunder. the immenfe, th' amazing height, The boundlefs grandeur of our God, Who treads the world beneath his feet, And fways the nations with his nod! 2 He speaks; and lo, all nature shakes, Heav'ns everlasting pillars bow;

He rends the clouds with hideous cracks,
And fhoots his fiery arrows through!
3 Well, let the nations start and fly
At the blue lightnings' horrid glare,

Athiefts and emp'rors fhrink and die,
When flame and noise torment the air.
4 Let noife and flame confound the skies,
And drown the fpacious realms below,
Yet will we fing the Thund'rers praife,
And fend our loud hofannas through.

5

Celestial king! thy blazing pow'r Kindles our hearts to flaming joys; We fhout to hear thy thunders roar, And echo to our Father's voice. 6 Thus fhall the God our Saviour come, And lightnings round his chariot play; Ye lightnings, fly to make him room, Ye glorious ftorms, prepare his way. WATTS'S L.

XXV. Creatures Mutable.

GREAT fouls adore thiẞe awful name
And bow and tremble, while they praife,
The Ancient of eternal days.

REAT former of this various frame,

2 Thou, Lord, with unfurpris'd furvey,
Saw't nature rifing yesterday;
And, as to-morrow, fhall thine eye
See earth and ftars in ruin lie.

3 Beyond an angel's vifion bright,
Thou dwell'ft in felf-exiftent light;
Which fhines with undiminish'd ray,
While funs and worlds in smoke decay.
4 Our days a tranfient period run,
And change with ev'ry circling fun;
And, in the firmeft ftate we boaft,
A moth can crufh us into duft.
But let the creatures fall around:
Let death confign us to the ground:

[ocr errors]

Let the laft gen'ral flame arife,

And melt the arches of the fkies."" 6 Calm as the fummer's ocean, we Can all the wreck of nature fee, While grace fecures us an abode, Unfhaken as the throne of God.

DODDRIDGE.

XXVI. God, the Provider.
ATHER of love! from age to age,
The wonders of thy grace

FA

The heart and lips of faints engage,
In cheerful fongs, to praise.

2 Creatures, in various trains, to thee
Raife the dependant eye

Thy ftores of goodnefs, rich and free,
Their various wants fupply.

3 But O! the treasures of thy love,
To man's apoftate race,

Are boundless myft'ries, far above
Both man's and angel's praife.
4 Jefus, in whom all fullnefs dwells,
Thro' endless years the fame,
To ev'ry hungry foul reveals
The glories of his name.

5 Thousands in this dark world below
His faithfulness atteft,

In worlds above ten thousand know
That humble fouls are bleft.

XXVII. Providence reviewed.

BOYCE.

WHEN all thy mercies, O my God,

My rifing foul furveys;

Tranfported with the view, I'm loft
In wonder, love, and praise.

2 Unnumber'd comforts to my foul Thy tender care bestow'd,

Before my

infant heart conceiv'd

From whom thofe comforts flow'd. 3 When in the flipp'ry paths of youth, With heedlefs fteps I ran,

Thine arm, unfeen, convey'd me fafe,
And led me up to man.

4 Ten thoufand thoufand precious gifts.
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the leaft a cheerful heart,
That taftes thofe gifts with joy.
5 When nature fails, and day and night
Divide thy works no more,
My ever grateful heart, O Lord,
Thy mercy fhall adore.

6 'Through all eternity to thee
A joyful fong I'll raife;
But O! Eternity's too fhort
To utter all thy praife.

XXVIII. Life reviewed.

ADDISON.

HEN o'er the trodden paths of life
Backwards I turn m
mine eyes,

I

WE

What varied fcenes throughout the road,
Awaken my furprise!

2 Thousands, to whom my natal hour
Imparted vital breath,

Juft look'd on life, and clos'd their eyes
In the faft fleep of death.

3 Thousands, who climb'd to manhood's stage
Safe through unnumber'd fnares,
Travell'd not far before they funk
Amidst its thorns and cares.

« ПредишнаНапред »