6 'Twas thy blest hand redeem'd the slave, And set the pris'ner free:

Be all I am, and all I have,
Devoted, LORD! to thee!

1

2

3

PART VII.

Divine Revelation.

188. S. M. WATTS.

The book of nature and scripture.
BEHOLD! the lofty sky
Declares its Maker GOD;

And all his starry works on high
Proclaim his pow'r abroad.

The darkness and the light

Still keep their course the same; While night to day, and day to night, Divinely teach his name.

4

In ev'ry diff'rent land

Their gen'ral voice is known;
They show the wonders of his hand,
And orders of his throne.

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 His laws are just and pure,
His truth without deceit ;
His promises for ever sure,
And his rewards are great.

189. L. M.

WATTS.

The works and word of God.

1 THE heav'ns 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 pow'r 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 touch'd and glanc'd on ev'ry land.
4 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest,
Till thro' the world thy truth has run :
Till Christ has all the nations blest
That see the light or feel the sun.
5 Father of lights! in glory rise,
Bless the dark world with heav'nly light;
Thy gospel makes the simple wise,
Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.
6 Thy noblest wonders here we view,
In souls renew'd, and sins forgiv❜n:

LORD! cleanse my sins, my soul renew,
And make thy word my guide to heav'n.

190. P. M. WATTS.

The same subject.

1 GREAT GOD! the heav'ns' well-order'd
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 pow'r and skill divine. 2 From night to day, from day to night, The dawning and the dying light, Lectures of heav'nly wisdom read; With silent eloquence they raise Our thoughts to the Creator's praise, And neither sound nor language need. 3 Yet their divine instructions run Far as the journeys of the sun,

And distant nations know their voice: The sun, in robes of splendour drest, Breaks from the chambers of the east, Moves round, and bids the earth rejoice. 4 Where'er he spreads his beams abroad, He speaks the majesty of GOD : All nature joins to show thy praise.

02

Thus God in ev'ry creature shines:
Fair are the book of nature's lines,
But fairer is the book of grace.

191. L. M. MRS STEELE.

The advantages of divine revelation. 1 WHEN Isr'el thro' the desert pass'd, A fiery pillar went before,

To guide them thro' the dreary waste,
And lessen the fatigues they bore.

2 Such is the glorious word of God;
"Tis for our light and guidance giv❜n ;
It sheds a lustre all abroad,

And points the path to bliss and heav'n.
3 It fills the soul with sweet delight,
And quickens its inactive pow'rs;
It sets our wand'ring footsteps right,
Displays his love, and kindles ours.

4 Its promises rejoice our hearts;
Its doctrines are divinely true;
Knowledge and pleasure it imparts;
It comforts and instructs us too.

5 Ye favour'd lands, blest with this word!
All ye who feel its saving pow'r!
Unite your tongues to praise the LORD,
And his distinguish'd grace adore.