Thus taught to use the book of grace,
We'll raise a grateful song of praise
That we possess it not in vain.
Y God! all nature owns thy sway;
Thou giv'st the night and thou the day :
When all thy loved creation wakes,
When morning, rich in lustre, breaks,
And bathes in dew the opening flower,
To thee we owe her fragrant hour;
And when she pours her choral song,
Her melodies to thee belong.
2 Or, when in paler tints arrayed,
The evening slowly spreads her shade;
That soothing shade, that grateful gloom,
Can more than day's enlivening bloom,
Still every fond and vain desire,
And calmer, purer thoughts inspire;
From earth the pensive spirit free,
And lead the softened heart to thee.
3 In every scene thy hands have dressed,
In every form by thee impressed,
Upon the mountain's awful head,
Or where the sheltering woods are spread;
In every note that swells the gale,
Or tuneful stream that cheers the vale,
The cavern's depth, or echoing grove,
A voice is heard of praise and love.
4 As o'er thy work the seasons roll,
And sooth with change of bliss the soul,
O never may their smiling train
Pass o'er the human sense in vain!
But oft, as on their charms we gaze,
Attune the wandering soul to praise ;
And be the joys that most we prize,
The joys that from thy favour rise.
HYMN 551. P. M.
Thanksgiving and Praise.
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 heaven views its image
Reflected below.
3 Those agents of power,
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.
And man, his last work,
With reason endued,
Who, falling through sin,
By grace is renewed
To God, his creator,
Let man ever raise
The song of thanksgiving,
The chorus of praise!
AR from these scenes of night
Unbounded glories rise,
And realms of infinite delight,
Unknown to mortal eyes.
2 There sickness never comes;
There grief no more complains;
Health triumphs in immortal bloom,
And purest pleasure reigns.
3 No strife, nor envy there
The sons of peace molest;
But harmony, and love sincere,
Fill every happy breast.
No cloud those regions know,
Forever bright and fair;
For sin, the source of mortal wo,
Can never enter there.
There night is never known,
Nor sun's faint sickly ray;
But glory from the eternal throne
Spreads everlasting day.
0 may this prospect fire
Our hearts with ardent love! And lively faith and strong desire Bear every thought above.
HYMN 553. P. M.
ETERNAL Spirit, source of light,
Enliv'ning, consecrating fire,
Descend, and, with celestial heat,
Our dull, our frozen hearts inspire
Our souls refine, our dross consume; Come, condescending Spirit, come ! 2 In our cold breasts Ò strike a spark
Of that pure flame which seraphs feel;
Nor let us wander in the dark,
Or lie benumb'd and stupid still.
Come, vivifying Spirit, come!
And make our hearts thy constant home..
3 Let pure devotion's fervours rise!
Let ev'ry pious passion glow !
O let the raptures of the skies
Kindle in our cold hearts below.
Come, purifying Spirit, come,
And make our souls thy constant bome!
O thee, O God! my pray'r ascends,
But not for golden stores;
Nor covet I the brightest gems
On the rich eastern shores:
2 Nor that deluding empty joy
Men call a mighty name,
Nor greatness with its pride and state,
My restless thoughts inflame :-
3 Nor pleasure's fascinating charms
My fond desires allure:
But nobler things than these, from thee,
My wishes would secure.
4 The faith and hope of joys to come
My best affections move;
Thy light, thy favour, and thy smiles,
Thine everlasting love.
5 These are the blessings I desire :
Lord, be these blessings mine!
And all the glories of the world
I cheerfully resign
HYMN 555. L. M.
Supplication for Divine Favour.
THOU, to whose all-searching sight
The darkness shineth as the light!
Search, prove my heart; it pants for thee:
O burst these bonds, and set it free.
2 Wash out its stains, refine its dross ;
Nail my
affections to the cross;
Hallow each thought; let all within
Be clean, as thou, my Lord, art clean.
3 If in this darksome wild I stray,
Be thou my light, be thou my way.
No foes, no violence I fear,
No fraud, while thou, my God, art near. 4 When rising floods my soul o'erflow, When sinks my heart in waves of woe; Saviour, thy timely aid impart,
And raise my head, and cheer my heart. 5 If rough and thorny be the way, My strength proportion to my day; Till toil, and grief, and pain shall cease, Where all is calm, and joy, and peace.
HYMN 556. C. M.
The Christian Character.
WANT a principle within
Of jealous godly fear,
A dread and batred of all sin,
A pain to feal it near.
2 That I from thee no more may part,
No more thy goodness grieve:
The filial awe, the loving heart,
The tender conscience give;
3 A heart resign'd, submissive, meek,
My great Redeemer's throne,
Where only Christ is heard to speak,
Where Jesus reigns alone.
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