The God of Thunder; or, Divine Judgment.
Ps. xviii. 9--11, and 13, 14, and 1.
NCUMBENT on the bending sky
The Lord descended from on high,
And bade the darkness of the pole
Beneath his feet tremendous roll.
2 God to his car the cherub join'd,
And on the wings of mightiest wind,
As down to earth his journey lay,
Resistless urg'd his rapid way.
3 Thick-woven clouds, around him clos'd,
His secret residence compos'd,
And waters, high suspended, spread
Their dark pavilion o'er his head.
4 His voice th' almighty Monarch rear'd, Through heaven's high vault in thunders heard, And down in fiercer conflict came
The hailstones dire and mingled flame.
5 With aim direct his shafts were sped,
In vain his foes before him fled;
Now here, now there, his lightnings stray,
And sure destruction marks their way.
6 Blest object of my soul's desire,
To thee my grateful thoughts aspire;
On thee my stedfast hope I build,
My God, my rest, my rock, my shield!
The Voice of the Heavens. Ps. xix. 1--8.
OD the heavens aloud proclaim
Through their wide-extended frame,
And the firmament each hour
Speaks the wonders of his power,
2 Day to the succeeding day
Joys the notice to convey,
And the nights, in ceaseless round,
Each to each repeat the sound.
3 Prompt, without or speech or tongue,
In his praise to form the song,
To the Lord they raise the theme,
Who of Gods is God supreme.
4 Pleas'd to hear their voice extend
Far as to her utmost end,
Earth the heaven-taught knowledge boasts
Through her many-languag'd coasts;
5 While the sun above her head
Sees his tabernacle spread,
And, from out his chamber bright,
Like a bridegroom, springs to sight:
6 See him with gigantic pace
Joyous run his destin'd race;
See him, every breast to cheer,
Pass through heaven in swift career:
7 Now to farthest regions borne
Onward speed, and now return,
And to all, with welcome ray,
Life and genial warmth convey.
For the King. Ps. xx. 6--9.
AY the eternal Monarch shed
His blessings on the anointed head,
Attentive from his Holy heaven
Protect the crown himself has given.
2 These urge to fight the rattling car,
And those the fiery steed prepare,
Unenvied both by us, who see
Our sure defence, great God, in Thee.
3 Driven by superior force they fly,
Or, fallen, in heaps promiscuous lie,
While we our heads exulting raise,
And sing our great Deliverer's praise.
4 O, when we praise, and when we pray,
Do Thou, whom heaven and earth obey,
Accept the praise, confirm the prayer,
And make our safety still thy care.
5 By thy unwearied strength upheld,
To Thee the king his thanks shall yield,
And, taught by blest experience, know
What joys from thy salvation flow.
6 Thou, Lord, preventive of his want,
The blessings of thy love wilt grant,
And bid the golden circlet spread
It's purest splendours round his head,
The Eternal Shepherd. Ps. xxiii.
O, my Shepherd's hand divine!
Want shall never more be mine:
In a pasture fair and large
He shall feed his happy charge,
And my couch with tenderest care
'Midst the springing grass prepare:
2 When I faint with summer's heat,
He shall lead my weary feet
To the streams that still and slow
Through the verdant meadow flow:
When through devious paths I stray,
Teach my steps the better way.
3 Though the dreary vale I tread
By the shades of death o'erspread,
There I walk from terror free,
my every wish I see
By thy rod and staff supplied;
This
my guard, and that my guide.
Fill'd by Thee, my cup o'erflows,
For thy love no limit knows;
Constant to my latest end
This my footsteps shall attend,
And shall bid thy hallow'd dome
Yield me an eternal home.
1 ARTH, big with empires, to thy reign.
Submits, great God, it's wide domain;
Whate'er this orb's vast bounds confine,
By just possession, Lord, is thine.
2 That orb amid the watery waste
Thy hands, blest Architect, have plac'd,
And bid th' unfathomable deep
Beneath it's firm foundations sleep.
3 Maker of all! through every land
Thy deeds in full record shall stand,
And farthest realms converted join
In homage to the name divine.
The Child's Refuge. Ps. xxvii. 7--11.
Hear me, Lord; on Thee I call, And prostrate at thy footstool fall; Propitious in my cause appear, And bow to my request thine ear. 2" Seek ye my face with duteous care, "And frequent to my throne repair;" Thus to my heart I hear Thee speak ;
Thy face," my heart replies, " I seek."
3 0 let me, on thy aid reclin'd,
Thee still my great salvation find,
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