Still let me know a father reigns, And trust a father's care. 5 Thy ways are little known To my weak, erring sight; Yet shall my soul, believing, own That all thy ways are right. 6 My Father! — blissful name ! Above expression dear!
If thou accept my humble claim, I bid adieu to fear.
The Works of God recounted to Posterity. 1 LET children hear the mighty deeds Which God performed of old,
Which in our younger years we saw, And which our fathers told.
2 He bids us make his glories known, His works of power and grace; And we'll convey his wonders down Through every rising race.
3 Our lips shall tell them to our sons, And they again to theirs, That generations yet unborn.
May teach them to their heirs.
4 Thus shall they learn, in God alone Their hope securely stands,
That they may ne'er forget his works, But practise his commands.
The Divine Glories celebrated.
1 TO thee, O Lord, with humble fear, The heavenly hosts their voices raise ; E'en mortals share thy bounties here; Let mortals, too, attempt thy praise.
2 Of all things thou the parent art, Of all things thou alone the end; On thee still fix our wandering heart, To thee let all our actions tend. 3 Thou, Lord, art light; thy native ray No shade, no variation knows ; To our dark souls thy light display, The glory of thy face disclose.
4 Thou, Lord, art love; the fountain thou Whence mercy unexhausted flows; On barren hearts, O, shed it now,
And make the desert bear the rose ! 5 So shall our every power to thee In love and holy service rise; Yea, body, soul, and spirit be Thy ever-living sacrifice.
1 IS there a lone and dreary hour,
When worldly pleasures lose their power? My Father! let me turn to thee,
And set each thought of darkness free.
2 Is there a time of rushing grief,
Which scorns the prospect of relief? My Father! break the cheerless gloom, And bid my heart its calm resume. 3 Is there an hour of peace and joy, When hope is all my soul's employ ? My Father! still my hopes will roam, Until they rest with thee, their home. 4 The noontide blaze, the midnight scene, The dawn, or twilight's sweet serene, The glow of life, the dying hour,
Delight and Instruction from the Bible, 1 I LOVE the volume of thy word; What light and joy those leaves afford To souls benighted and distressed! Thy precepts guide my doubtful way; Thy fear forbids my feet to stray ;
Thy promise leads my heart to rest. 2 Thy threatenings wake my slumbering eyes, And warn me where my danger lies; But 't is thy blessed gospel, Lord, That makes my guilty conscience clean, Converts my soul, subdues my sin,
And gives a free, but large, reward. 3 Who knows the errors of his thoughts? My God, forgive my secret faults,
And from presumptuous sins restrain; Accept my poor attempts of praise, That I have read thy book of grace, And book of nature, not in vain.
Strength and Peace from the Divine Word.
1 THERE is a stream whose gentle flow Supplies the city of our God; Life, love, and joy still gliding through, And watering our divine abode.
2 That sacred stream, thy holy word, Supports our faith, our fear controls; Sweet peace thy promises afford,
And give new strength to fainting souls.
Light and Glory of the Word.
1 THE Spirit breathes upon the word, And brings the truth to sight; Precepts and promises afford A sanctifying light.
2 A glory gilds the sacred page, Majestic like the sun :
It gives a light to every age; It gives, but borrows none.
3 The hand that gave it still supplies The gracious light and heat : His truths upon the nations rise; They rise, but never set.
4 Let everlasting thanks be thine For such a bright display,
As makes a world of darkness shine With beams of heavenly day.
5 My soul rejoices to pursue The steps of Him I love, Till glory break upon my view In brighter worlds above.
Praise to God for his Word.
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 th' 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.
Progress of Gospel Truth.
1 UPON the gospel's sacred page
The gathered beams of ages shine; And, as it hastens, every age
But makes its brightness more divine.
2 On mightier wing, in loftier flight,
From year to year does knowledge soar ; And, as it soars, the gospel light
Adds to its influence more and more.
3 Truth, strengthened by the strength of thought, Pours inexhaustible supplies,
Whence sagest teachers may be taught, And wisdom's self become more wise. 4 More glorious still as centuries roll,
New regions blessed, new powers unfurled, Expanding with th' expanding soul, Its waters shall o'erflow the world; 5 Flow to restore, but not destroy ; As when the cloudless lamp of day Pours out its floods of light and joy, And sweeps each lingering mist away. C. M.
Excellency of the Scriptures.
1 LET all the heathen writers join To form one perfect book;
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