VII.

SHALL foolish, weak, short-sighted man
Beyond archangels go,
The great Almighty God explain,
Or to perfection know?
His attributes divinely soar
Above the creature's sight,
And prostrate seraphim adore
The glorious Infinite.

Jehovah's everlasting days,
They cannot number'd be;
Incomprehensible the space
Of thine immensity;

Thy wisdom's depths by reason's line
In vain we strive to sound;

Or stretch our labouring thought t' assign
Omnipotence a bound.

The brightness of thy glories leaves

Description far below;

Nor man's, nor angel's heart conceives
How deep thy mercies flow.
Thy love is most unsearchable,

And dazzles all above;

They gaze, but cannot count or tell

The treasures of thy love.

VIII.

AND is there care in heaven? and is there love In heavenly spirits to these creatures base, That may compassion of their evils move? There is ;-else much more wretched were the case Of men than beasts. But oh! the exceeding grace Of highest God! that loves his creatures so, And all his works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed angels he sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve his wicked foe.

How oft do they their silver bowers leave
To come to succour us that succour want?
How oft do they with golden pinions cleave
The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant,
Against foul fiends to aid us militant?
They for us fight, they watch and duly ward,
And their bright squadrons round about us plant,
And all for love, and nothing for reward:

Oh! why should heavenly God to man have such regard!

IX.

THOU whose Almighty Word
Chaos and darkness heard,
And took their flight;

Hear us, we humbly pray,
And where the Gospel's day
Shed not its glorious ray,
“Let there be Light!"

Thou who didst come to bring, On thy redeeming wing,

Healing and sight;

Health to the sick in mind,

;

Sight to the inly blind
Oh now to all mankind

"Let there be Light!"

Spirit of Truth and Love,
Life-giving Holy Dove,

Speed forth thy flight:
Move on the waters' face,
Bearing the Lamp of Grace;
And in Earth's darkest place
"Let there be Light!"

Holy, Holy, Holy,

Most glorious Trinity,

Wisdom, Love, Might! Boundless as ocean's tide Rolling in fullest pride,

O'er the earth, far and wide, "Let there be Light!"