Long as yon glittering arch shall bend, To cheer with hope the fainting soul; Thy praise shall fill each grateful voice, HYMN FOR A CHARITY SERMON. JULY, 1814. GOD from his throne above the skies This darkling orb surveys; And bids the sun in glory rise To cheer a guilty race. Alike to court and lowly glen, Freely for all the sons of men His daily bounties flow. Nor rich with mercies less divine Immanuel's holy name, When Heir and Lord of Judah's line The great Deliverer came. No bounded love, no partial grace, They told of joy to every race, For wide as ocean ranges round, And far as winds can rove, From Salem swell'd the solemn sound Oh! then, while winged to Heaven in prayer Our grateful accents flow, For all the gifts we freely share, And all the hopes we know; Be our's the joy with ready zeal The love a Saviour felt to feel, The work He wrought fulfil. So through the earth shall mercy reign, And God by mercy won, Receive his long-lost world again, PSALM XXIV. PARAPHRASE, JEHOVAH's throne is fixed above, And bright through all the courts of love Ah! how shall man ascend so high, A feeble race condemn'd to die, The heirs of guilt and fear! Shall towering strength, or eagle flight, By Saint and Seraph trod? That living light, that holiest air, The guileless heart alone shall share, The pure behold their God. Yet think not that with fruitless pain, One tear shall drop, one sigh in vain See, see the great Redeemer come Even now from Earth's remotest end Ten thousand thousand voices blend To bless the Saviour's power: Within thy temple, Lord, we stand With willing heart, a pilgrim band, And wait the promis'd hour. Then high your golden portals raise, Ye Heavens the triumph share; Messiah comes with all his train, He comes to claim his purchas'd reign, And rest for ever there! PSALM XLII. PARAPHRASE. PART I. As panting in the sultry beam But rising griefs distress my soul, To chide my woe, and mock my fear, O'er hours of peace and gladness flown. For I have walk'd the happy round, That circles Sion's holy ground, And gladly swell'd the choral lays That hymn'd my great Redeemer's praise, What time the hallow'd arch along Responsive swell'd the solemn song, |