4 Such guests shall to thy courts be led, To banquet on thy love's repast; And drink, as from a fountain's head, Of joys that shall forever last.
Paternal Providence of God.
1 THROUGH all the various shifting scene Of life's mistaken ill or good,
Thy hand, O God! conducts unseen, The beautiful vicissitude.
2 Thou givest with paternal care, Howe'er unjustly we complain, To all their necessary share
Of joy and sorrow, health and pain.
3 All things on earth, and all in heaven, On thine eternal will depend;
And all for greater good were given, Would man pursue the appointed end.
4 Be this my care!—to all beside Indifferent let my wishes be;
Passion be calm, and dumb be pride, And fixed my soul, great God! on thee.
The Books of Nature and Scripture. Ps. 19.
BEHOLD! the lofty sky
Declares its Maker, God;
And all his starry works on high Proclaim his power abroad.
2 The darkness and the light Still keep their course the same; While night to day, and day to night Divinely teach his name.
3 In every different land
Their general voice is known; They show the wonders of his hand, And orders of his throne.
4 Ye Christian lands, rejoice! Here he reveals his word; We are not left to nature's voice To bid us know the Lord.
5 His statutes and commands Are set before our eyes; He puts his gospel in our hands, Where our salvation lies.
6 While of thy works I sing, Thy glory to proclaim,
Accept the praise, my God, my King, In my Redeemer's name.
The Books of 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.
5 Great Sun of Righteousness, arise, Bless the dark world with heavenly light: Thy gospel makes the simple wise; Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right. 6 Thy noblest wonders here we view, In souls renewed, and sins forgiven: Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew, And make thy word my guide to heaven.
God's perfect Law. Ps. 19.
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 But what frail man observes how oft He does from virtue fall?
O! cleanse me from my secret faults, Thou God, that knowest them all.
5 Let no presumptuous sin, O Lord, Dominion have o'er me;
That by thy grace preserved, I may The great transgression flee.
Perfection of the Law and Testimony. Ps. 19.
1 THY law is perfect, Lord of light, Thy testimonies sure;
The statutes of thy realm are right, And thy commandment pure.
2 Let these, O God, my soul convert, And make thy servant wise: Let these be gladness to my heart, The dayspring to mine eyes.
3 By these may I be warned betimes; Who knows the guile within? Lord, save me from presumptuous crimes, Cleanse me from secret sin.
4 So may the words my lips express, The thoughts that throng my mind, O Lord, my strength and righteousness, With thee acceptance find.
186. L. M. 61. SPIRIT OF THE PSALMS Praise to God for his Word. Ps. 56.
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 the 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!
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