Hymns for Christian Devotion Especially Adapted to the Universalist Denomination

Part 28

Chapter 283,716 wordsPublic domain

1 Scorn not the slightest word or deed, Nor deem it void of power; There's fruit in each wind-wafted seed, Waiting its natal hour.

2 A whispered word may touch the heart, And call it back to life; A look of love bid sin depart, And still unholy strife.

3 No act falls fruitless; none can tell How vast its power may be; Nor what results enfolded dwell Within it silently.

4 Work and despair not: bring thy mite, Nor care how small it be; God is with all that serve the right, The holy, true, and free.

823. S. M. Enfield.

Forgiveness.

1 I hear the voice of woe! I hear a brother's sigh! Then let my heart with pity flow, With tears of love, my eye.

2 I hear the thirsty cry! The hungry beg for bread! Then let my spring its stream supply, My hand its bounty shed.

3 The debtor humbly sues, Who would, but cannot pay; And shall I lenity refuse, Who need it every day?

4 And shall not wrath relent, Touched by that humble strain, My brother crying, "I repent, Nor will offend again?"

5 How else, on soaring wing, Can hope bear high my prayer, Up to thy throne, my God, my King, To plead for pardon there?

824. 7s. M. Milman.

"And he arose and rebuked the winds and sea."

1 Lord! thou didst arise and say, To the troubled waters, "Peace," And the tempest died away, Down they sank, the foaming seas; And a calm and heaving sleep Spread o'er all the glassy deep, All the azure lake serene Like another heaven was seen!

2 Lord! thy gracious word repeat To the billows of the proud! Quell the tyrant's martial heat, Quell the fierce and changing crowd! Then the earth shall find repose, From oppressions, and from woes; And another heaven appear On our world of darkness here!

SEAMEN'S HYMNS.

825. L. M. C. Wesley.

"They that go down to the sea in ships."

1 Lord of the wide extended main! Whose power the winds and seas controls, Whose hand doth earth and heaven sustain, Whose spirit leads believing souls;

2 Throughout the deep thy footsteps shine; We own thy way is in the sea, O'erawed by majesty divine, And lost in thine immensity!

3 Infinite God! thy greatness spanned These heavens, and meted out the skies; Lo' in the hollow of thy hand The measured waters sink and rise.

4 Thee to perfection who can tell? Earth and her sons beneath thee lie, Lighter than dust within thy scale, And less than nothing in thine eye.

826. L. M. Watts.

The Seaman's Song.

1 Would you behold the works of God, His wonders in the world abroad? With hardy mariners survey The unknown regions of the sea.

2 They leave their native shores behind, And seize the favor of the wind; Till God command, and tempests rise, That heave the ocean to the skies.

3 When land is far, and death is nigh, Bereaved of hope, to God they cry: His mercy hears their loud address, And sends salvation in distress.

4 He bids the winds their wrath assuage, And stormy tempests cease to rage; The grateful band their fears give o'er And hail with joy their native shore.

5 O, may the sons of men record The wondrous goodness of the Lord; Let them their purest offerings bring, And in the church his glory sing.

827. C. M. Mrs. Hemans.

"These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep."

1 Oh God! thy name they well may praise, Who to the deep go down, And trace the wonders of thy ways, Where rocks and billows frown.

2 For many a fair majestic sight Hath met their wandering eyes, Beneath the streaming northern light Or blaze of Indian skies.

3 If glorious be that awful deep, No human power can bind, What then art thou, who bid'st it keep Within its bounds confined!

4 Let heaven and earth in praise unite, Eternal praise to thee, Whose word can rouse the tempest's might, Or still the raging sea!

828. L. M. 6l. Anonymous.

The Mariner's Hymn.

1 Lord of the sea!--thy potent sway Old ocean's wildest waves obey; The gale that whistles through the shrouds, The storm that drives the frighted clouds,-- If but thy whisper order peace, How soon their rude commotions cease!

2 Lord of the sea!--the seaman keep From all dangers of the deep! When high the white-capped billows rise, When tempests roar along the skies, When foes or shoals awaken fear,-- O, in thy mercy be thou near.

3 Lord of the sea!--a sea is life Of care and sorrow, woe and strife! With watchful pains we steer along, To keep the right path, shun the wrong: God grant, that, when we cease to roam, We gain an everlasting home!

829. 7s. M. Mrs. Sigourney.

The Same.

1 When the parting bosom bleeds, When our native shore recedes, When the wild and faithless main Takes us to her trust again, Father! view a sailor's woe-- Guide us wheresoe'er we go.

2 When the lonely watch we keep, Silent on the mighty deep, While the boisterous surges hoarse Bear us daily on our course, Eye that never slumbers! shed Holy influence on our head.

3 When the Sabbath's peaceful ray, O'er the ocean's breast doth play, Though no throngs assemble there, No sweet church-bell warns to prayer, Spirit! let thy presence be Sabbath to the unresting sea.

4 When in foreign lands we roam, Far from kindred, far from home, Stranger-eyes our conduct view, Heathen-bands our steps pursue, Let our conversation be Fitting those who follow thee.

5 Should pale death, with arrow dread, Make the ocean-cave our bed, Though no eye of love might see Where that shrouded grave shall be-- God! who hear'st the surges roll, Deign to save the sailor's soul.

830. C. M. Madan's Coll.

Thanksgiving for Deliverance in a Storm.

1 Our little bark, on boisterous seas, By cruel tempests tossed, Without one cheerful beam of hope, Expecting to be lost,--

2 We to the Lord, in humble prayer, Breathed out our sad distress; Though feeble, yet with contrite hearts, We begged return of peace.

3 Then ceased the stormy winds to blow; The surges ceased to roll; And soon again a placid sea Spoke comfort to the soul.

4 O, may our grateful, trembling hearts Their hallelujahs sing To him who hath our lives preserved,-- Our Father and our King.

831. 8s. M. H. F. Gould.

Hymn at Sea.

1 O Thou who hast spread out the skies, And measured the depths of the sea, 'Twixt heavens and ocean shall rise Our incense of praises to thee.

2 We know that thy presence is near While heaves our bark far from the land;-- We ride o'er the deep without fear;-- The waters are held in thy hand.

3 Eternity comes in the sound Of billows that never can sleep! There's Deity circling us round,-- Omnipotence walks o'er the deep!

4 O Father, our eye is to thee, As on for the haven we roll; And faith in our Pilot shall be An anchor to steady the soul.

832. L. M. Cowper.

Temptation compared to a Storm.

1 The billows swell; the winds are high; Clouds overcast my wintry sky: Out of the depths to thee I call; My fears are great, my strength is small.

2 O Lord, the pilot's part perform, And guide and guard me through the storm; Defend me from each threatening ill; Control the waves: say, "Peace! be still."

833. L. M. L. H. Signourney.

Prayer at Sea.

1 Prayer may be sweet in cottage homes, Where sire and child devoutly kneel, While through the open casement nigh The vernal blossoms fragrant steal.

2 Prayer may be sweet in stately halls, Where heart with kindred heart is blent, And upward to th' eternal throne The hymn of praise melodious sent.

3 But he who fain would know how warm The soul's appeal to God may be, From friends and native land should turn, A wanderer on the faithless sea;--

4 Should hear its deep, imploring tone Rise heavenward o'er the foaming surge, When billows toss the fragile bark, And fearful blasts the conflict urge.

5 Naught, naught appears but sea and sky; No refuge where the foot may flee: How will he cast, O Rock divine, The anchor of his soul on thee!

834. C. M. Anonymous.

The Sailor's Grave.

1 Not in the church-yard shall he sleep, Amid the silent gloom,-- His home was on the mighty deep, And there shall be his tomb.

2 He loved his own bright, deep blue sea, O'er it he loved to roam; And now his winding sheet shall be That same bright ocean's foam.

3 No village bell shall toll for him Its mournful, solemn dirge; The winds shall chant a requiem To him beneath the surge.

4 For him, break not the grassy turf, Nor turn the dewy sod; His dust shall rest beneath the surf, His spirit with its God.

835. C. M. Select Hymns.

Prayer for Seamen.

1 We come, O Lord, before thy throne, And, with united pleas, We meet and pray for those who roam Far off upon the seas.

2 O, may the Holy Spirit bow The sailor's heart to thee, Till tears of deep repentance flow Like rain-drops in the sea.

3 Then may a Saviour's dying love Pour peace into his breast, And waft him to the port above Of everlasting rest.

NATIONAL HYMNS.

836. 6s. & 4s. M. S. F. Smith.

National Hymn.

1 My country 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrim's pride, From every mountain side Let freedom ring.

2 My native country, thee-- Land of the noble, free-- Thy name--I love; I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills; My heart with rapture thrills Like that above.

3 Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees Sweet freedom's song: Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe, partake; Let rocks their silence break,-- The sound prolong.

4 Our fathers' God, to thee, Author of liberty, To thee we sing: Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light; Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King.

837. C. M. Wreford.

Prayer for our Country.

1 Lord, while for all mankind we pray, Of every clime and coast, O, hear us for our native land,-- The land we love the most.

2 O guard our shores from every foe, With peace our borders bless, With prosperous times our cities crown, Our fields with plenteousness.

3 Unite us in the sacred love Of knowledge, truth, and thee; And let our hills and valleys shout The songs of liberty.

4 Here may religion pure and mild Smile on our Sabbath hours; And piety and virtue bless The home of us and ours.

5 Lord of the nations, thus to thee Our country we commend; Be thou her refuge and her trust, Her everlasting friend.

838. L. M. 6l. H. Ware, Jr.

The God of our Fathers.

1 Like Israel's hosts to exile driven, Across the flood the pilgrims fled; Their hands bore up the ark of Heaven, And Heaven their trusting footsteps led, Till on these savage shores they trod, And won the wilderness for God.

2 Then, where their weary ark found rest, Another Zion proudly grew; In more than Judah's glory dressed, With light that Israel never knew. From sea to sea her empire spread, Her temple Heaven, and Christ her head.

3 Then let the grateful church, to-day Its ancient rite with gladness keep; And still our fathers' God display His kindness, though the fathers sleep. O, bless, as thou hast blessed the past, While earth, and time, and heaven shall last.

839. C. M. Watts.

"Thou shall teach them to thy children."

1 Let children hear the mighty deeds Which God performed of old: Which in our younger years we saw, And which our fathers told.

2 He bids us make his glories known-- His works of power and grace; And we'll convey his wonders down To every rising race.

3 Our lips shall tell them to our sons, And they again to theirs; That generations yet unborn May teach them to their heirs.

4 Thus shall they learn, in God alone Their hope securely stands; That they may ne'er forget his works, But practise his commands.

840. L. M. Flint.

"We have a goodly heritage."

1 In pleasant lands have fallen the lines That bound our goodly heritage, And safe beneath our sheltering vines Our youth is blest, and soothed our age.

2 What thanks, O God, to thee are due, That thou didst plant our fathers here; And watch and guard them as they grew, A vineyard, to the planter dear.

3 The toils they bore, our ease have wrought; They sowed in tears--in joy we reap; The birthright they so dearly bought We'll guard, till we with them shall sleep.

4 Thy kindness to our fathers shown In weal and woe through all the past, Their grateful sons, O God, shall own While here their name and race shall last.

841. L. M. Presbyterian Coll.

God Acknowledged in National Blessings.

1 Great God of nations, now to thee Our hymn of gratitude we raise; With humble heart and bending knee, We offer thee our song of praise.

2 Here freedom spreads her banner wide, And casts her soft and hallowed ray; Here thou our fathers' steps didst guide In safety through their dangerous way.

3 We praise thee that the gospel's light Through all our land its radiance sheds, Dispels the shades of error's night, And heavenly blessings round us spreads.

4 Great God, preserve us in thy fear; In dangers still our guardian be; O, spread thy truth's bright precepts here, Let all the people worship thee.

842. L. M. Roscoe.

Remembrance of our Fathers.

1 Great God! beneath whose piercing eye The world's extended kingdoms lie; Whose favoring smile upholds them all, Whose anger smites them, and they fall;

2 We bow before thy heavenly throne; Thy power we see, thy goodness own; But, cherished by thy milder voice, Our bosoms tremble and rejoice.

3 Thy kindness to our fathers shown, Their children's children long shall own; To thee with grateful hearts shall raise Their tribute of exulting praise.

4 Our God, our Guardian, and our Friend! Oh still thy sheltering arm extend; Preserved by thee for ages past, For ages may thy kindness last.

843. C. M. C. Sprague.

The Pilgrims.

1 Our fathers, Lord, to seek a spot Where they might kneel to thee, Their own fair heritage forgot, And braved an unknown sea.

2 Here found their pilgrim souls repose Where long the heathen roved; And here their humble anthems rose To bless the Power they loved.

3 They sleep in dust,--but where they trod, A feeble, fainting band, Glad millions catch the strain, O God, And sound it through the land.

844. 8s. & 7s. M. Pierpont.

Anniversary Hymn.

1 God of mercy, do thou never From our offering turn away, But command a blessing ever On the memory of this day.

2 Light and peace do thou ordain it; O'er it be no shadow flung, Let no deadly darkness stain it, And no clouds be o'er it hung.

3 May the song this people raises, And its vows to thee addressed, Mingle with the prayers and praises, That thou hearest from the blest.

4 When the lips are cold that sing thee, And the hearts that love thee dust, Father, then our souls shall bring thee Holier love and firmer trust.

845. C. M. Aspland's Coll.

The Virtuous Love of Country.

1 Parent of all, omnipotent! In heaven and earth below! Through all creation's vast extent Whose streams of goodness flow:

2 Teach me to know from whence I rose, And unto what designed; No private aims may I propose, That injure human kind.

3 To hear my country's lawful voice May my best thoughts incline; 'Tis reason's law, 'tis virtue's choice, 'Tis nature's call, and thine.

4 Me from fair freedom's sacred cause May nothing e'er divide; Nor grandeur, gold, nor vain applause, Nor friendship false, misguide.

5 To duty, honor, virtue true, In all my country's weal, Let me my public walk pursue: So, God, thy favor deal.

846. 6s. & 4s. M. S. F. Smith.

Anniversary Hymn.

1 Auspicious morning, hail! Voices from hill and vale Thy welcome sing: Joy on thy dawning breaks; Each heart that joy partakes, While cheerful music wakes, Its praise to bring.

2 Long o'er our native hills, Long by our shaded rills, May freedom rest; Long may our shores have peace, Our flag grace every breeze, Our ships the distant seas, From east to west.

3 Peace on this day abide, From morn till even-tide; Wake tuneful song; Melodious accents raise; Let every heart, with praise, Bring high and grateful lays, Rich, full, and strong.

847. 6s. & 4s. M. J. G. Adams.

The Same.

1 Loud raise the notes of joy; Freemen, your songs employ, As well ye may;-- Let your full hearts go out In the exulting shout, And with your praise devout, Greet this glad day!

2 Children of lisping tongue, Those whose full hearts are young Lift up the song! Manhood and hoary age, Let naught your joy assuage, In the high theme engage, Praises prolong!

3 God of our fathers' land! Long may our temples stand Sacred to thee! Let thy bright light divine On all the people shine, Make us forever thine, From sin set free!

848. L. P. M. Kippis.

National Praise and Prayer.

1 With grateful hearts with joyful tongues, To God we raise united songs; His power and mercy we proclaim: Through every age, O, may we own Jehovah here has fixed his throne, And triumph in his mighty name.

2 Long as the moon her course shall run, Or men behold the circling sun, Lord, in our land support thy reign; Crown her just counsels with success, With truth and peace her borders bless, And all thy sacred rights maintain.

849. 6s. & 4s. M. Anonymous.

Prayer for our Country.

1 God bless our native land, Firm may she ever stand Through storm and night; When the wild tempests rave, Ruler of winds and wave, Do thou our country save, By thy great might.

2 For her our prayer shall rise To God above the skies; On him we wait; Thou who hast heard each sigh, Watching each weeping eye, Be thou forever nigh;-- God save the state.

850. 7s. & 6s. M. Christian Ballads.

Our Country.

Now pray we for our country, Pray that it long may be The holy and the happy, And the gloriously free! Who blesseth her is blesséd! So peace be in her walls; And joy in all her villages, Her cottages and halls.

THE SEASONS, ANNUAL OCCASIONS, ETC.

851. L. M. Heginbotham.

The God of the Seasons.

1 Great God! let all our tuneful powers Awake and sing thy mighty name; Thy hand rolls on our circling hours, The hand from which our being came.

2 Seasons and moons revolving round In beauteous order speak thy praise; And years with smiling mercy crowned, To thee successive honors raise.

3 Each changing season on our souls Its sweetest, kindest influence sheds; And every period, as it rolls, Showers countless blessings on our heads.

4 Our lives, our health, our friends, we owe All to thy vast unbounded love; Ten thousand precious gifts below, And hope of nobler joys above.

852. L. M. Enfield's Sel.

The Goodness of God in the Seasons.

1 Great God! at whose all-powerful call At first arose this beauteous frame, By thee the seasons change, and all The changing seasons speak thy name.

2 Thy bounty bids the infant year, From winter storms recovered, rise; When thousand grateful scenes appear, Fresh opening to our wondering eyes.

3 O, how delightful 'tis to see The earth in vernal beauty dressed! While in each herb, and flower, and tree, Thy bright perfections shine confessed!

4 Indulgent God! from every part, Thy plenteous blessings largely flow; We see,--we taste;--let every heart With grateful love and duty glow.

853. C. M. Watts.

Seasons.

1 With songs and honors sounding loud, Address the Lord on high; O'er all the heavens he spreads his cloud, And waters veil the sky.

2 He sends his showers of blessings down, To cheer the plains below; He makes the grass the mountains crown, And corn in valleys grow.

3 His steady councils change the face Of each declining year; He bids the sun cut short his race, And wintry days appear.

4 On us his providence has shone, With gentle, smiling rays; O, may our lips and lives make known His goodness and his praise.

854. H. M. J. Taylor.

Providence acknowledged in the Seasons.

1 Rejoice! the Lord is King: Your Lord and King adore; Mortals! give thanks and sing, And triumph evermore: Lift up your hearts, lift up your voice; Rejoice, in sacred lays rejoice.

2 His wintry north winds blow, Loud tempests rush amain; Yet his thick showers of snow Defend the infant grain: Lift up your hearts, lift up your voice; Rejoice, in sacred lays rejoice.

3 He wakes the genial spring, Perfumes the balmy air; The vales their tribute bring, The promise of the year: Lift up your hearts, lift up your voice Rejoice, in sacred lays rejoice.

4 He leads the circling year; His flocks the hills adorn; He fills the golden ear, And loads the field with corn; O happy mortals! raise your voice; Rejoice, in sacred lays rejoice.

855. 7s. M. Barbauld.

The Seasons.

1 Praise to God, immortal praise, For the love that crowns our days! Bounteous Source of every joy, Let thy praise our tongues employ.

2 All that Spring, with bounteous hand, Scatters o'er the smiling land,-- All that liberal Autumn pours From her rich o'erflowing stores,--