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 that 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 nor real voice, nor sound,
Amid their radiant orbs be found!
In Reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
For ever singing, as they shine,
"The hand that made us is divine."
The voice of God in his works.
(PSALM XIX. 1—6.)
GREAT GOD! the heavens' well-ordered frame
Declares the glories of thy name;
There thy rich works of wonder shine :
A thousand starry beauties there,
A thousand radiant marks appear,
Of boundless power and skill 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 their divine instructions run
Far as the journies of the sun,
And every nation knows their voice:
The sun, like some young bridegroom drest,
Breaks from the chambers of the east,
Rolls round, and makes the earth rejoice.
4 Where'er he spreads his beams abroad,
He smiles, and speaks his maker God;
All Nature joins to shew thy praise.
Thus God in every creature shines :
Fair is the book of Nature's lines;
But fairer is the book of Grace.
Praise due to God for his wonderful works.
GREAT GOD! all nature hot the
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 the 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 aweful head,
Or where the sheltering woods are spread;
In every note that swells the galė,
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 works the seasons roll,
And soothe, with change of bliss, the soul,
O never may the smiling train
Pass o'er the human scene in vain !
But oft, as on the charm we gaze,
Attune the wondering soul to praise;
And be the joys that most we prize,
The joys that from thy favour rise!
The providence of God universali. NTERNAL source of every joy!
Well may thy praise our lips employ, While in thy temple we appear,,
Whose goodness crowns the circling year.
2 Wide as the wheels of nature roll,
Thy hand supports the steady pole :i
The sun is taught by Thee to rise,
And darkness when to veil the skies.
3 The flowery Spring at thy command
Embalms the air, and paints the land:
The Summer suns with vigour shine
To raise the corn, and cheer the vine.
4 Thy hand in Autumn richly pours Through all our coasts redundant stores ;
And Winters, softened by thy care,
No more a face of horror wear.
5 Seasons, and months, and weeks, and days, Demand successive songs of praise; Still be the cheerful homage paid
With dawning light, and evening shade.
6 O may our more harmonious tongues,
In worlds unknown pursue the songs ;
And in those brighter courts adore,
Where days and years revolve no more.
The mystery of providence unfolded.
GREAT God of Providence thy ways
Are veiled from mortal sight;
Wrapt in impenetrable shade;
Or clothed with dazzling light.
2 But in the world of bliss above,
Where thou dost ever reign,
Thy mysteries shall be all unveiled,
And not a doubt remain.
3 The sun of righteousness shall there
His brightest beams display,
And not a hovering cloud obscure
That never-ending day.
Praise to the God of the seasons.
LORIOUS. Author of the year,
Teach us at thy shrine to bow;
As thy various months appear,
Let our lips renew the vow.
2 When the early Spring looks out
From her infant nest of flowers,
On the green fresh woods about,
Sparkling in the sunny showers :
3 When, as up the blue profound,
Summer climbs her noon-day height,
Not the breathing of a sound
Wanders through the depth of light :
4 When, o'er harvest-waving hill,
And on gaily-blossomed heath,
Autumn glows, or beauteous still,
Wears the golden veil of death:
5 When, like some unspotted corse,
Shrouded in its virgin white,
Nature yields to Winter's force,
Only to revive more bright:
6 Glorious Author of the year,
Teach us at thy throne to bow!
As thy varying months appear,
Let our lips renew the vow!
Praise to God in prosperity.
Por the love that crowns our days;
PR
RAISE to God, immortal praise,
Bounteous source of every joy,
Let thy praise our tongues employ !
|