PRAISE TO GOD FROM THE HEAVENLY BODIES.

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

II

Th' unwearied sun from day to day
Doth his creator's pow'r displav;
And publishes to ev'ry land
The work of an almighty hand.

III

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:

IV

Whilst all the stars which round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.

V

In reason's ear these all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice;
For ever singing, as they shine,

"The hand which made us is divine."

YE nations round the earth, rejoice Before the LORD, your sov'reign king: Serve him with cheerful heart and voice; With all your tongues his glories sing.

II

The LORD is GOD: 'tis he alone
Doth life, and breath, and being give:
We are his work, and not our own;
The sheep that on his pastures live.

III

Enter his doors with songs of joy,
With praises to his courts repair :
And make it your divine employ
To pay your thanks and honours there.

IV

The LORD is good; the LORD is kind;
Great is his love, his mercy sure:
And the whole race of man will find
His truth, from age to age, endure.

THE SAME.

I

GREAT first of beings! mighty LORD
Of all this wondrous frame!
Produc'd by thy creating word,
The world from nothing came.

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

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

III

Thy glories shine throughout the whole,
Each part reflects thy light:
By thee, in course, the planets roll,
And day succeeds the night.

IV

By thee, the sun dispenses heat,
And beams of cheering day :
The distant stars in order set,
By night, thy pow'r display.

V

By thee, the earth its produce yields,
And countless myriads live;
And trees and plants adorn the fields,
And their rich treasure give.

THE SAME.

I:

ALMIGHTY GOD! thy pow'rful word From nothing all things brought: Earth, seas, and skies, by thee, their LORD, With skill divine were wrought.

II

By thee preserv'd, the world remains
A proof of pow'r divine:
Whatever this great whole contains,
By sov'reign right is thine.

111

Sun, moon, and stars thy views fulfil;
Through thee each planet rolls:
Earth, seas, and skies obey thy will;
Thy power the world controls.

IV

Thou, over all, art LORD supreme,
All things from thee derive:
No creature can dispute thy claim,
Or independent live.

V

To thine all-gracious pow'r we bow;
Our wills to thee resign :

Accept the praise; accept the vow;
We wou'd be ever thine.

THANKS TO GOD FOR CREATION AND PRESERVATION.

I:

THOU pow'r supreme, by whose command I' live!

The grateful tribute of my praise receive:
To thy indulgence I my being owe,
And all the joys which from that being flow.

II

A mind, susceptible of endless joy, Whose frame nor force, nor time, shall e'cr destroy ;

Which shall survive, tho' nature claim my breath,

And bid defiance to the call of death;

III

To realms of bliss with active freedom soar, And live, when earth and skies shall be no

more:

Author of life! in vain my tongue essays For this immortal gift to speak thy praise.

IV

How shall my heart its grateful sense reveal,
Where all the energy of words must fail ?
O may its influence in my life appear,
And ev'ry action prove my thanks sincere!\