HYM
Y MN S.

I. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

HYMN 1.

(C. M.)

1

GR

REAT GOD! with wonder and with praise
On all thy works I look; /

But still thy wisdom, pow'r, and grace,
Shine brightest in thy book.

2 The stars, that in their courses roll,
Have much instruction giv'n;
But thy good word informs my soul
How I may soar to heav'n.

3 The fields provide me food, and show
The goodness of the Lord;

But fruits of life and glory grow
In thy most holy word.

4 Here are my choicest treasures hid;
Here my best comfort lies;
Here my desires are satisfied,
And here my hopes arise.

5 Lord, make me understand thy law,
Show what my faults have been,
And from thy Gospel let me draw
Pardon for all my sin.

6 Here would I learn how Christ has died
To save my soul from hell;
Not all the books on earth beside,
Such heav'nly wonders tell.

7 Then let me love my Bible more,
And take a fresh delight,

1

By day to read these wonders o'er,
And meditate by night.

FA

HYMN 2.

ATHER of mercies! in thy word
What endless glory shines!

For ever be thy name ador'd,

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For these celestial lines.

(c. M.)

2 Here may the wretched sons of want

Exhaustless riches find;

Riches above what earth can grant,
And lasting as the mind.

3 Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,
And yields a free repast;

Sublimer sweets than nature knows
Invite the longing taste.

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4 Here the Redeemer's welcome voice
Spreads heav'nly peace around;
And life and everlasting joys,
Attend the blissful sound.

5 0 may these heav'nly pages be
My ever dear delight;

And still new beauties may I see,
And still increasing light.

6 Divine instructer, gracious Lord, L Be thou for ever near;

1

Teach me to love thy sacred word,
And view my Saviour there.

II. CREATION.

HYMN 3.

REAT first of beings! mighty Lord
Of all this wondrous frame!

Produc'd by thy creating word,

The world from nothing came.

2 Thy voice sent forth the high command, "Twas instantly obey'd:

(C. M.)

And through thy goodness all things stand,
Which by thy pow'r were made.

3 Lord! for thy glory shine the whole;
They all reflect thy light:

For this in course the planets roll,
And day succeeds the night.

4 For this the sun disperses heat
And beams of cheering day;
And distant stars, in order set,
By night thy pow'r display.

5 For this the earth its produce yields,
For this the waters flow;

And blooming plants adorn the fields,
And trees aspiring grow.

6 Inspir'd with praise, our minds
This wise and noble end-

pursue

That all we think, and all we do,

Shall to thine honour tend.

HYMN 4.

GENESIS i.

1 ET Heav'n arise, let earth appear,
Proclaim'd th' Eternal

The heav'n arose, the earth appear'd,
At his creating word.

2 But formless was the earth, and void;
Dark, sluggish, and confus'd;
Till o'er the mass the Spirit mov'd,
And quick'ning pow'r diffus'd.
3 Then spake the Lord Omnipotent
The mandate, "Be there light:"
Light darted forth in vivid rays,
And scatter'd ancient night.

4 The glorious firmament he spread,
To part the earth and sky;
And fix'd the upper elements
Within their spheres on high.

5 He bade the seas together flow;
They left the solid land;

And herbs, and plants, and fruitful trees,
Sprung forth at his command.

6 Above, he form'd the stars; and plac'd
Two greater orbs of light;

The radiant sun to rule the day,
The moon to rule the night.

7 To all the varied living tribes

He gave their wondrous birth;
Some form'd within the wat'ry deep,
Some, from the teeming earth.

8 Then, chief o'er all his works below,
Man, honour'd man, was made;

His soul with God's pure image stamp'd,
With innocence array'd.

(C. M.)

L.

L

9 Completed now the mighty work,

1

God his creation view'd;

And, pleas'd with all that he had made,
Pronounc'd it "very good."

HYMN 5.

Praise from Living Creatures. PSALM CXlviii.

BLet each enraptur'd thought obey,

EGIN, my soul, th' exalted lay;

And praise th' Almighty's name:

(11. 1.)

Jar! / 23

Let heaven and earth, and seas and skies,
In one melodious concert rise,

To swell th' inspiring theme.

2 Ye angels, catch the thrilling sound,
While all th' adoring thrones around
His boundless mercy sing;

Let ev'ry list'ning saint above
Wake all the tuneful soul of love,
And touch the sweetest string.

L

3 Whate'er this living world contains,
That wings the air, or treads the plains,
United praise bestow;

Ye tenants of the ocean wide,
Proclaim him through the mighty tide,
And in the deeps below.

4 Let man, by nobler passions sway'd,
The feeling heart, the judging head,
In heavenly praise employ;
Spread HIS tremendous Name around,

While heav'n's broad arch rings back the sound,
The gen'ral burst of joy.

Praise from the Elements and Worlds. PSALM CXlviii.

1

E fields of light, celestial plains,

YE

Where pure, serene effulgence reigns,
Ye scenes divinely fair,

Your Maker's wondrous pow'r proclaim;
Tell how he form'd your shining frame,
And breath'd the fluid air.

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2 Join, all ye stars, the vocal choir;
Thou dazzling orb of liquid fire
The mighty chorus aid;

And, soon as ev'ning veils the plain,
Thou moon, prolong the hallow'd strain,
And praise him in the shade.

3 Thou heav'n of heav'ns, his vast abode,
Proclaim the glories of thy God;

Ye worlds, declare his might;

He spake the word, and ye were made,
Darkness and dismal chaos fled,

And nature sprung to light.

4 Let ev'ry element rejoice;

Ye thunders, burst with awful voice
To him who bids you roll;

His praise in softer notes declare,

Each whisp'ring breeze of yielding air,
And breathe it to the soul.

1

TH

HE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heav'ns, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.

2 Th' unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's pow'r display,
And publishes to ev'ry land
The work of an Almighty hand.

3 Soon as the ev'ning shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale;
And, nightly, to the list'ning earth,
Repeats the story of her birth;

4 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.
5 What though in solemn silence all
Move round this dark terrestrial ball;
What though no real voice nor sound
Amidst their radiant orbs be found;

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