Chapter 8

3 Be joyful, ye saints sustained by his might, And let your glad songs awake with each morn; 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.

163. L. M. Watts.

Universal Praise.

1 Wide as his vast dominion lies, Make the Creator's name be known; Loud as his thunders speak his praise, And sound it lofty as his throne.

2 Jehovah!--'tis a glorious word; O may it dwell on every tongue; But saints, who best have known the Lord, Are bound to raise the noblest song.

3 Speak of the wonders of that love Which Gabriel plays on every chord; From all below, and all above, Loud hallelujahs to the Lord.

164. C. M. Patrick.

Te Deum.

1 O God, we praise thee, and confess, That thou the only Lord And everlasting Father art, By all the earth adored.

2 To thee all angels cry aloud-- To thee the powers on high, Both cherubim and seraphim, Continually do cry--

3 "O holy, holy, holy Lord, Whom heavenly hosts obey, The world is with the glory filled Of thy majestic sway."

4 Th' apostles' glorious company, And prophets, crowned with light, With all the martyrs' noble host, Thy constant praise recite.

5 The holy church throughout the world, O Lord, confesses thee-- That thou eternal Father art Of boundless majesty.

165. 8s. & 7s. M. Fawcett.

God of our Salvation.

1 Praise to thee, thou great Creator; Praise be thine from every tongue; Join, my soul, with every creature, Join the universal song.

2 Father, source of all compassion, Free, unbounded grace is thine: Hail the God of our salvation; Praise him for his love divine.

3 For ten thousand blessings given, For the hope of future joy, Sound his praise through earth and heaven, Sound Jehovah's praise on high.

4 Joyfully on earth adore him, 'Till in heaven our song we raise; There, enraptured, fall before him, Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

166. H. M. George Sandys.

General Praise.

1 All, from the sun's uprise, Unto his setting rays, Resound in jubilees, The great Jehovah's praise. Him serve alone; In triumph bring Your gifts, and sing, Before his throne.

2 Man drew from man his birth, But God his noble frame Built of the ruddy earth, Filled with celestial flame. His sons we are; Sheep by him led, Preserved and fed With tender care.

3 O to his portals press In your divine resorts: With thanks his power profess, And praise him in his courts. How good! How pure! His mercies last; His promise past, Forever sure.

167. C. M. M. Rayner.

The Same.

1 Hail! Source of light, of life, and love, And joys that never end; In whom all creatures live and move: Creator, Father, Friend.

2 All space is with thy presence crowned: Creation owns thy care; Each spot in nature's ample round, Proclaims that God is there.

3 Attuned to praise be every voice; Let not one heart be sad: Jehovah reigns! Let earth rejoice; Let all the isles be glad.

4 Then sound the anthem loud and long, In sweetest, loftiest strains; And be the burden of the song, The Lord, Jehovah, reigns!

RELIGION OF NATURE.

168. L. M. 6l. Watts.

God revealed in his Works.

1 Great God! the heavens' well ordered frame Declares the glory of thy name, There thy rich works of wonder shine: A thousand starry beauties there, A thousand radiant marks appear, Of boundless skill and power divine.

2 From night to day, from day to night, The dawning and the dying light Lectures of heavenly wisdom read; With silent eloquence they raise Our thoughts to our Creator's praise, And neither sound nor language need.

3 Yet thy divine instructions run Far as the journeys of the sun: Thy light and truth are known abroad; We see thy smile in Nature's face, And in the pages of thy grace We read the glories of our God.

169. C. M. Rowe.

Praise from all Nature.

1 Begin the high, celestial strain, My raptured soul, and sing A sacred hymn of grateful praise To heaven's almighty King.

2 Ye curling fountains, as ye roll Your silver waves along, Repeat to all your verdant shores The subject of the song.

3 Bear it, ye breezes, on your wings, To distant climes away, And round the wide-extended world The lofty theme convey.

4 Take up the burden of his name, Ye clouds, as ye arise, To deck with gold the opening morn, Or shade the evening skies.

5 Long let it warble round the spheres, And echo through the sky; Let angels, with immortal skill, Improve the harmony;--

6 While we, with sacred rapture fired, The blest Creator sing, And chant our consecrated lays To heaven's eternal King.

170. 8s. M. Hogg.

God of Life.

1 Blessed be thy name forever, Thou of life the Guard and Giver! Thou canst guard thy creatures sleeping, Heal the heart long broke with weeping: God of stillness and of motion, Of the desert and the ocean, Of the mountain, rock and river, Blessed be thy name forever!

2 Thou who slumberest not nor sleepest, Blest are they thou kindly keepest. God of evening's parting ray, Of midnight gloom, and dawning day-- That rises from the azure sea Like breathings of eternity; God of life! that fade shall never, Blessed be thy name forever!

171. H. M. H. Ballou, 2d.

Universal Praise.

1 Ye realms below the skies, Your Maker's praises sing; Let boundless honors rise To heaven's eternal King; O bless his name whose love extends Salvation to the world's far ends.

2 Give glory to the Lord, Ye kindreds of the earth; His sovereign power record, And show his wonders forth, Till heathen tongues his grace proclaim, And every heart adores his name.

3 'T is he the mountains crowns With forests waving wide; 'T is he old ocean bounds, And heaves her roaring tide; He swells the tempests on the main, Or breathes the zephyr o'er the plain.

4 Still let the waters roar, As round the earth they roll; His praise for evermore They sound from pole to pole. 'Tis nature's wild, unconscious song O'er thousand waves that floats along.

5 His praise, ye worlds on high, Display with all your spheres, Amid the darksome sky, When silent night appears. O, let his works declare his name Through all the universal frame.

172. C. M. Lutheran Coll.

Goodness of God in his Works.

1 Hail, great Creator--wise and good! To thee our songs we raise: Nature, through all her various scenes, Invites us to thy praise.

2 Thy glory beams in every star, Which gilds the gloom of night, And decks the smiling face of morn With rays of cheerful light.

3 Great nature's God! still may these scenes Our serious hours engage! Still may our grateful hearts consult Thy works' instructive page!

4 And while, in all thy wondrous ways, Thy varied love we see: Oh, may our hearts, great God, be led Through all thy works to thee.

173. L. M. 6l. Montgomery's Coll.

The Beauties of Creation.

1 Ours is a lovely world, how fair Thy beauties e'en on earth appear! The seasons in their courses fall, And bring successive joys. The sea, The earth, the sky, are full of thee, Benignant, glorious Lord of all!

2 There's beauty in the heat of day; There's glory in the noon-tide ray; There's sweetness in the twilight shades-- Magnificence in night. Thy love Arch'd the grand heaven of blue above, And all our smiling earth pervades.

3 And if thy glories here be found, Streaming with radiance all around, What must the fount of glory be! In thee we'll hope, in thee confide, Thou, mercy's never ebbing tide, Thou, love's unfathomable sea!

174. L. M. 6l. Moore.

All Things are of God.

1 Thou art, O God, the life and light Of all this wondrous world we see; Its glow by day, its smile by night, Are but reflections caught from thee; Where'er we turn, thy glories shine, And all things fair and bright are thine.

2 When day, with farewell beam delays Among the opening clouds of even, And we can almost think we gaze, Through opening vistas into heaven,-- Those hues that mark the sun's decline, So soft, so radiant, Lord, are thine.

3 When night, with wings of starry gloom, O'ershadows all the earth and skies, Like some dark, beauteous bird, whose plume Is sparkling with unnumbered eyes,-- That sacred gloom, those fires divine, So grand, so countless, Lord, are thine.

4 When youthful spring around us breathes, Thy spirit warms her fragrant sigh; And every flower that summer wreathes Is born beneath thy kindling eye: Where'er we turn, thy glories shine, And all things fair and bright are thine.

175. L. M. Addison.

The Heavens declare the Glory of God.

1 The spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great original proclaim. Th' unwearied sun, from day to day, Doth his Creator's power display; And publishes to every land The work of an Almighty hand.

2 Soon as the evening shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And nightly to the listening earth Repeats the story of her birth: Whilst all the stars which round her burn, And all the planets in their turn, Confirm the tidings as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole.

3 What though, in solemn silence, all Move round this dark terrestrial ball; What though no real voice nor sound Amidst their radiant orbs be found; In reason's ear they all rejoice, And utter forth a glorious voice; Forever singing, as they shine,-- "The hand that made us is divine."

176. C. M. Zinzendorf.

The Creator, God.

1 Lord, when thou said'st, "So let it be," The heavens were spread and shone, And this whole earth stood gloriously; Thou spak'st and it was done.

2 The whole creation still records, Unto this very day, That thou art God, the Lord of lords; Thee all things must obey.

177. C. M. Bowring.

Nature's Evening Hymn.

1 The heavenly spheres, to thee, O God, Attune their evening hymn; All wise, all holy, thou art praised, In song of seraphim! Unnumbered systems, suns and worlds, Unite to worship thee, While thy majestic greatness fills Space, time, eternity.

2 Nature,--a temple worthy thee, That beams with light and love; Whose flowers so sweetly bloom below, Whose stars rejoice above, Whose altars are the mountain cliffs That rise along the shore; Whose anthems, the sublime accord Of storm and ocean roar;

3 Her song of gratitude is sung By spring's awakening hours; Her summer offers at thy shrine Its earliest, loveliest flowers; Her autumn brings its ripened fruits, In glorious luxury given; While winter's silver heights reflect Thy brightness back to heaven.

4 On all thou smil'st; and what is man Before thy presence, God; A breath, but yesterday inspired, To-morrow but a clod. That clod shall mingle in the vale, But, kindled, Lord, by thee, The spirit to thy arms shall spring, To life, to liberty.

178. L. M. 6l. Bowring.

"Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge."

1 The heavens, O Lord! thy power proclaim, And the earth echoes back thy name; Ten thousand voices speak thy might, And day to day, and night to night, Utter thy praise--thou Lord above! Thy praise, thy glory, and thy love.

2 And nature with its countless throng, And sun, and moon, and planets' song, And every flower that light receives, And every dew that tips the leaves, And every murmur of the sea-- Tunes its sweet voice to worship Thee.

3 Thy name thy glories they rehearse, Great Spirit of the universe; Sense of all sense, and soul of soul, Nought is too vast for thy control; The meanest and the mightiest share Alike thy kindness and thy care.

179. 8s. & 7s. M. Heber.

"Consider the lilies of the field;--behold the fowls of the air."

1 Lo! the lilies of the field! How their leaves instruction yield! Hark to nature's lesson given By the blessed birds of heaven! Every bush and tufted tree Warbles trust and piety: Children, banish doubt and sorrow,-- God provideth for the morrow.

2 One there lives, whose guardian eye Guides our earthly destiny; One there lives, who, Lord of all, Keeps his children lest they fall: Pass we, then, in love and praise, Trusting him, through all our days, Free from doubt and faithless sorrow,-- God provideth for the morrow.

180. L. M. Peabody.

Religious Influences of Nature.

1 God of the fair and open sky! How gloriously above us springs The tented dome, of heavenly blue, Suspended on the rainbow's rings! Each brilliant star, that sparkles through Each gilded cloud that wanders free In evening's purple radiance, gives The beauty of its praise to thee.

2 God of the rolling orbs above, Thy name is written clearly bright In the warm day's unvarying blaze, Or evening's golden shower of light: For every fire that fronts the sun, And every spark that walks alone Around the utmost verge of heaven, Were kindled at thy burning throne.

3 God of the world, the hour must come, And nature's self to dust return; Her crumbling altars must decay; Her incense-fires shall cease to burn; But still her grand and lovely scenes Have made man's warmest praises flow, For hearts grow holier as they trace The beauty of the world below.

181. 7s. & 6s. M. Conder.

"Day unto day uttereth speech."

1 The heavens declare his glory, Their Maker's skill the skies: Each day repeats the story, And night to night replies. Their silent proclamation Throughout the earth is heard; The record of creation, The page of nature's word.

2 There, from his bright pavilion, Like eastern bridegroom clad, Hailed by earth's thousand million, The sun sets forth; right glad, His glorious race commencing, The mighty giant seems; Through the vast round dispensing His all-pervading beams.

3 So pure, so soul-restoring Is truth's diviner ray; A brighter radiance pouring Than all the pomp of day: The wanderer surely guiding, It makes the simple wise; And evermore abiding, Unfailing joy supplies.

182. L. M. 6l. Heber.

The Visible World a Shadow of the Invisible.

1 I praised the earth in beauty seen, With garlands gay of various green; I praised the sea, whose ample field Shone glorious as a silver shield; And earth and ocean seemed to say, "Our beauties are but for a day."

2 I praised the sun, whose chariot rolled On wheels of amber and of gold; I praised the moon, whose softer eye Gleamed sweetly through the summer sky; And moon and sun in answer said, "Our years are told when we must fade."

3 O God, O, good beyond compare! If thus thy meaner works are fair,-- If thus thy bounties gild the span Of sinful earth and mortal man,-- How glorious must thy mansion be Where thy redeemed shall dwell with thee.

183. L. M. Moore.

Nature a Temple.

1 The turf shall be my fragrant shrine; My temple, Lord, that arch of thine, My censor's breath the mountain airs, And silent thoughts my only prayers. My choir shall be the moonlight waves, When murmuring homeward to their caves, Or when the stillness of the sea, E'en more than music breathes of thee.

2 I'll seek, by day, some glade unknown. All light and silence like thy throne, And the pale stars shall be, at night, The only eyes that watch my rite. Thy heaven, on which 'tis bliss to look, Shall be my pure and shining book, Where I can read, in words of flame, The glories of thy wondrous name.

3 There's nothing bright, above, below, From flowers that bloom, to stars that glow, But in its light my soul can see Some feature of thy Deity. There's nothing dark, below, above, But in its gloom I trace thy love, And meekly wait that moment, when Thy touch shall turn all bright again.

THE SCRIPTURES.

184. C. M. Tate & Brady.

Perfection of God's Law.

1 God's perfect law converts the soul, Reclaims from false desires; With sacred wisdom his sure word The ignorant inspires.

2 The statutes of the Lord are just, And bring sincere delight; His pure commands, in search of truth, Assist the feeblest sight.

3 His perfect worship here is fixed, On sure foundations laid; His equal laws are in the scales Of truth and justice weighed.

4 Of more esteem than golden mines, Or gold refined with skill; More sweet than honey, or the drops That from the comb distil.

5 My trusty counsellors they are, And friendly warnings give; Divine rewards attend on those, Who by thy precepts live.

185. L. M. Watts.

Nature and Scripture. Ps. 19.

1 The heavens declare thy glory, Lord! In every star thy wisdom shines; But, when our eyes behold thy word, We read thy name in fairer lines.

2 The rolling sun, the changing light, And nights, and days, thy power confess; But the blest volume thou hast writ Reveals thy justice and thy grace.

3 Sun, moon, and stars, convey thy praise Round the whole earth, and never stand; So when thy truth began its race, It touched and glanced on every land.

4 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest Till through the world thy truth has run; Till Christ has all the nations blest, That see the light, or feel the sun.

186. C. M. Cowper.

Light and Glory of the Word.

1 A glory gilds the sacred page, Majestic like the sun: It gives a light to every age; It gives, but borrows none.

2 The hand that gave it still supplies The gracious light and heat: His truths upon the nations rise; They rise, but never set.

3 Let everlasting thanks be thine, For such a bright display, As makes a world of darkness shine With beams of heavenly day.

4 My soul rejoices to pursue The steps of Him I love, Till glory break upon my view In brighter worlds above.

187. L. M. 6l. Spirit of the Psalms.

Praise to God for his Word.

1 Join, all ye servants of the Lord, To praise him for his sacred word,-- That word, like manna, sent from heaven, To all who seek it freely given; Its promises our fears remove, And fill our hearts with joy and love.

2 It tells us, though oppressed with cares, The God of mercy hears our prayers; Though steep and rough th' appointed way, His mighty arm shall be our stay; Though deadly foes assail our peace, His power shall bid their malice cease.

3 It tells who first inspired our breath, And who redeemed our souls from death; It tells of grace,--grace freely given,-- And shows the path to God and heaven: O, bless we, then, our gracious Lord, For all the treasures of his word.

188. S. M. Watts.

Nature and Scripture. Ps. 19.

1 Behold! the lofty sky Declares its Maker, God: And all his starry works on high Proclaim his power abroad.

2 Ye Christian lands, rejoice! Here he reveals his word; We are not left to nature's voice To bid us know the Lord.

3 His statutes and commands Are set before our eyes; He puts his gospel in our hands, Where our salvation lies.

4 While of thy works I sing, Thy glory to proclaim, Accept the praise, my God, my King, In my Redeemer's name.

189. C. M. Rippon's Coll.

The Value of the Scriptures.

1 How precious is the book divine, By inspiration given! Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine, To lead our souls to heaven.

2 O'er all the strait and narrow way Its radiant beams are cast; A light whose never weary ray Grows brightest at the last.

3 It sweetly cheers our fainting hearts In this dark vale of tears; Life, light, and comfort it imparts, And calms our anxious fears.

4 This lamp through all the dreary night Of life shall guide our way, Till we behold the glorious light Of never-ending day.

190. C. M. Episcopal Coll.

Sufficiency of the Scriptures.

1 Great God, with wonder and with praise On all thy works I look; But still thy wisdom, power, and grace, Shine brightest in thy book.

2 Here are my choicest treasures hid; Here my best comfort lies; Here my desires are satisfied; And here my hopes arise.

3 Lord, make me understand thy law; Show what my faults have been; And from thy gospel let me draw The pardon of my sin.

191. S. M. Beddome.

Superiority of the Scriptures.

1 O Lord, thy perfect word Directs our steps aright; Nor can all other books afford Such profit or delight.

2 Celestial light it sheds, To cheer this vail below; To distant lands its glory spreads, And streams of mercy flow.

3 True wisdom it imparts; Commands our hope and fear; O, may we hide it in our hearts, And feel its influence there.

192. L. M. Beddome.

The Gospel Revelation.

1 God, in the Gospel of his Son, Makes his eternal counsels known; 'Tis here his richest mercy shines, And truth is drawn in fairest lines.

2 Wisdom its dictates here imparts, To form our minds, to cheer our hearts; Its influence makes the sinner live; It bids the drooping saint revive.

3 Our raging passions it controls, And comfort yields to contrite souls; It brings a better world in view, And guides us all our journey through.