God of our fathers! here as they
We walk the pilgrims of a day:
As transient guests, thy works admire,
And instant to our home retire.
Spare me a little while, O spare!
And nature's failing strength repair;
Ere, life's short circuit wander'd o'er,
I perish and am seen no more.
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST.-Psalm viil [ADDISON.]
THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame
Their great Original proclaim:
The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's power display,
And publishes to every land,
The work of an Almighty hand.
Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And, nightly, to the listening earth,
Repeats the story of her birth:
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.
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?
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice;
For ever singing, as they shine,
The hand that made us is divine!"
NATIONS EXHORTED TO PRAISE GOD.
BEFORE Jehovah's awful throne,
Ye nations, bow with sacred joy;
Know that the Lord is God alone;
He can create, and He destroy.
His sovereign power, without our aid,
Made us of clay, and form'd us men;
And when like wandering sheep we stray'd,
He brought us to his fold again.
We'll crowd thy gates with thankful songs;
High as the heavens our voices raise;
And earth, with her ten thousand tongues,
Shall fill thy courts with sounding praise.
Wide as the world is thy command;
Vast as eternity thy love;
Firm as a rock thy truth shall stand,
When rolling years shall cease to move.
THE SINNER'S PORTION, AND THE
SAINT'S HOPE.-Psalm xvii.
LORD, I am thine; but Thou wilt prove
My faith, my patience, and my love:
When men of spite against me join,
They are the sword, the hand is thine.
Their hope and portion lie below,
'Tis all the happiness they know,
Tis all they seek; they take their shares.
And leave the rest among their heirs.
What sinners value, I resign;
Lord, 'tis enough that Thou art mine;
❤ shai vehold thy blissful ace,
And stand complete in rig teousness.
This life's a dream, an empty show;
But the bright world to which I go
Hath joys substantial and sincere:
When shall I wake, and find me there!
O glorious hour! O bless'd abode !
I shall be near and like my God!
And flesh and sin no more control
The sacred pleasures of the soul.
My flesh shall slumber in the ground,
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound;
Then burst the chains with sweet surpr
And in my Saviour's image rise.
BROTHERLY LOVE.-Psalm cxxxii.
How sweet, how heavenly is the sight,
When those who love the Lord
In one another's peace delight,
And so fulfil his word!
O may we feel each brother's sigh,
And with him bear a part;
May sorrows flow from eye to eye,
And joy from heart to heart!
Free us from envy, scorn, and pride.
Our wishes fix above;
May each his brother's failing hide,
And show a brother's love.
Let love, in one delightful stream,
Through every bosom flow;
And union sweet, and fond esteem.
In every action glow.
Love is the golden chain that binds
The happy souls above;
And he's an heir of heaven who finds
His bosom glow with love.
YONS PAID IN THE SANCTUARY.-Psalm cxvi.
WHAT shall I render to my God
For all his kindness shown?
My feet shall visit thine abode,
My songs address thy throne.
Among the saints that fill thine house,
My offerings shall be paid;
There shall my zeal perform the vows
My soul in anguish made.
How much is mercy thy delight,
Thou ever-blessed God!
How dear thy servants in thy sight!
How precious is their blood!
How happy all thy servants are!
How great thy grace to me!
My life, which Thou hast made thy care,
Lord, I devote to Thee.
Now I am thine, for ever thine,
Nor all my purpose move;
Thy hand hath loosed my bonds of pain,
And bound me with thy love.
Here in thy courts I leave my vow,
And thy rich grace record:
Witness, ye saints, who hear me now,
If I forsake the Lord.
GOD ALL-SEEING.-Psalm cxxxix.
LORD, Thou hast search'd and seen me through;
Thine eye commands with piercing view
My rising and my resting hours,
My heart and flesh with all their powers.
My thoughts, before they are my own,
A to my God distinctly known;
He knows the words I mean to speak
Ere my opening lips they break.
Within thy circling power I stand,
On every side I find thy band;
Awake, asleep, at home, abroad,
I am surrounded still with God.
Amazing knowledge, vast and great!
What large extent! what lofty height!
My soul, with all the powers I boast
Is in the boundless prospect lost.
O may these thoughts possess my breast,
Where'er I rove, where'er I rest;
Nor let my weaker passions dare.
Consent to sin, for God is there!
THE FOLLY OF SELF-DEPENDENCE-Prov. i. 5
THE swift not always in the race
Shall seize the crowning prize;
Not always wealth and honour grace
The labour of the wise.
Fond mortals but themselves beguile
When on themselves they rest;
Blind is their wisdom, weak their toil,
By Thee, O Lord, unbless'd.
Evil and good before Thee stand,
Thy missions to perform;
The blessing comes at thy command,
At thy command the storm.
O Lord, in all our ways we'll own
Thy providential power,
Intrusting to thy care aloue
The lot of every hour.
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