Thus shall my heavenly birth be known,
And for thy child thou wilt me own.
3 Enlarge my soul with love like thine;
My moral powers by grace refine;
So shall I feel another's wo,
And cheerful feed an hungry foe.
4 I hope for pardon, through thy Son,
For all the crimes which I have done;
O, may the grace that pardons me,
Constrain me to forgive like thee!
HYMN 21. C. M. Watts's Lyrics.
Braintree, Devizes.
A song to Creating Wisdom.
1 ETERNAL Wisdom, thee we praise! Thee the creation sings!
With thy lov'd name, rocks, hills, and seas, And heaven's high palace rings.
2 Thy hand, how wide it spread the sky! How glorious to behold!
Ting'd with the blue of heavenly dye,
And starr'd with sparkling gold.
3 Thy glories blaze all nature round,
And strike the gazing sight,
Through skies, and seas, and solid ground,
With terror and delight.
4 Infinite strength, and equal skill,
Shine through the worlds abroad, Our souls with vast amazement fill, And speak the builder, God.
5 But still the wonders of thy grace Our softer passions move;
Pity divine in Jesus' face
We see, adore, and love.
HYMN 22. L. M. Doddridge.
Antigua, Castle Street.
God's goodness to the children of men.
1 YE sons of men, with joy record
The various wonders of the Lord;
And let his power and goodness sound,
Through all your tribes the earth around.
2 Let the high heavens your songs invite,
Those spacious fields of brilliant light;
Where sun, and moon, and planets roll,
And stars that glow from pole to pole.
3 But O! that brighter world above,
Where lives and reigns incarnate love!
God's only Son, in flesh array'd,
For man a bleeding victim made.
4 Thither, my soul, with rapture soar,
There, in the land of praise adore;
The theme demands an angel's lay,
Demands an everlasting day.
HYMN 23. C. M. Steele.
Irish, Braintree, Christmas.
Creation and Providence.
1 LORD, when our raptur'd thought surveys Creation's beauties o'er,
All nature joins to teach thy praise,
And bid our souls adore.
2 Where'er we turn our gazing eyes,
Thy radiant footsteps shine;
Ten thousand pleasing wonders rise,
And speak their source divine.
3 The living tribes, of countless forms,
In earth, and sea, and air,
The meanest flies, the smallest worms,
Almighty power declare.
4 Thy wisdom, power, and goodness, Lord, In all thy works appear:
And, O! let man thy praise record-
Man, thy distinguish'd care!
5 From thee the breath of life he drew;
That breath thy power maintains ;
Thy tender mercy, ever new,
His brittle frame sustains.
6 Yet nobler favours claim his praise,
Of reason's light possess'd;
By revelation's brightest rays
Still more divinely bless'd.
HYMN 24. C. M. Cowper.
St. Anns, Barby, Stade
The mysteries of Providence; or, light shining out of darkness.
1 GOD moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
2 Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.
3 Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds, ye so much dread,
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
4 Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
5 His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
6 Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.
HYMN 25. C. M. Beddome.
Bedford, St. Martins.
Mysteries to be explained hereafter.
1 GREAT God of providence! thy ways
Are hid from mortal sight;
Wrapt in impenetrable shades,
Or cloth'd with dazzling light.
2 The wondrous methods of thy grace
Evade the human eye;
The nearer we attempt t' approach,
The farther off they fly.
3 But in the world of bliss above,
Where thou dost ever reign,
These mysteries shall be all unveil'd,
And not a doubt remain.
4 The Sun of righteousness shall there
His brightest beams display,
And not a hov'ring cloud obscure
That never-ending day.
HYMN 26. C. M. Addison.
Carthage, Arundel, Irish.
Gratitude for divine mercies. Part I.
1 WHEN all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.
2 Thy providence my life sustain'd,
And all my wants redress'd,
When in the silent womb I lay,
Or hung upon the breast.
3 To all my weak complaints and cries Thy mercy lent an ear,
Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learn'd
To form themselves in prayer.
4 Unnumber'd comforts on my soul
Thy tender care bestow'd;
Before my infant heart conceiv'd
From whom those comforts flow'd.
5 When in the slippery paths of youth,
With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm, unseen, convey'd me safe,
And led me up to man.
6 Through hidden dangers, toils, and death,
It gently clear'd my way,
And through the pleasing scenes of vice
Where thousands go astray.
HYMN 27. C. M. Addison.
Bedford, St. Anns, York.
Gratitude for divine mercies. Part II.
1 WHEN pale with sickness, oft hast thou
With health renew'd my face;
And when in sin and sorrow sunk,
Reviv'd my soul with grace.
2 Thy bounteous hand with worldly good Has made my cup run o'er ;
And in a kind and faithful friend
Has doubled all my store.
3 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ,
Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
That tastes those gifts with joy.
4 Through every period of my life,
Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.
5 Through all eternity to thee
A joyful song I'll raise;
For O, eternity's too short.
To utter all thy praise!
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