3 Though earth her ancient seat forsake,
By pangs convulsive torn,
Though her self-balanced fabric shake,
And ruined nature mourn ;
4 Though hills be in the ocean lost,
With all their trembling load;
No fear shall e'er disturb the just,
Or shake his trust in God.
5 Nations remote and realms unknown,
In vain resist his sway;
For lo! Jehovah's voice is shown,
And earth shall melt away.
6 Let war's devouring surges rise,
And swell on every side;
The Lord of hosts our safeguard is,
And Jacob's God our guide.
Providence, the peculiar Guardian of the Church. Ps. xlvi.
1 GOD is the refuge of his saints,
When fiercest storms their peace invade ;
Ere we can offer our complaints,
Behold him present with his aid.
2 Let mountains from their seats be hurled
Down to the deep, and buried there,
Convulsions shake the solid world,-
Our faith shall never yield to fear.
3 There is a stream, whose gentle flow
Supplies the city of our God;
Life, love, and joy still gliding through,
And watering our divine abode.
4 Zion enjoys her Sovereign's love,
Secure in every threatening hour;
Nor can her firm foundations move,
Built on his truth, and armed with power.
God the intellectual Light. 2 Cor. iv. 6.
1 PRAISE to the Lord of boundless might,
With uncreated glories bright!
His presence gilds the worlds above;
The unchanging source of light and love.
2 Our rising earth his eye beheld,
When in substantial darkness veiled,
The shapeless chaos, nature's womb,
Lay buried in eternal gloom.
3 Let there be light! Jehovah said,
And light o'er all its face was spread :
Nature, arrayed in charms unknown,
Gay with its new-born lustre shone.
4 He sees the mind, when lost it lies
In shades of ignorance and vice;
And darts from heaven a vivid ray,
And changes midnight into day.
5 Our souls, revived by heavenly light,
Shall be in all thine image bright;
While all our faculties shall join
To praise the Lord of light divine.
The Divine Benignity in every Dispensation. Ps. ix. 10.
1 PRAISE to his grace, who loud proclaims
His various and his saving names;
O may they not be heard alone,
But by our sure experience known!
2 Awake, our noblest powers, to bless
The God of Abr'am, God of
peace;
Now by a dearer title known,
Father and God of Christ his son.
3 Through every age his gracious ear
Is open to his servant's prayer;
Nor can one humble soul complain
That it hath sought its God in vain.
4 What unbelieving heart shall dare
In whispers to suggest a fear,
While still he owns his ancient name,
The same his power, his love the same?
5 To thee our souls in faith arise,
To thee we lift expecting eyes,
And boldly through the desert tread ;
For God will guard where God shall lead.
Jesus Christ the Light of the World.
1 BEHOLD the Prince of peace!
The chosen of the LORD,
GOD's well-beloved Son, fulfils
The sure prophetic word.
2 No royal pomp adorns
This king of righteousness:
Meekness and patience, truth and love
Compose his princely dress.
3 The spirit of the Lord,
In rich abundance shed,
On this great prophet gently lights,
And rests upon his head.
4 Jesus, the light of men!
His doctrine life imparts;
O may we feel its quickening power
To warm and glad our hearts!
5 Cheered by its beams, our souls
Shall run the heavenly way :
The path which Christ has marked and trod, Will lead to endless day.
The first and second coming of Jesus. Ps. xcvi.
1.SING to the Lord, ye distant lands!
Ye tribes of every tongue!
His new-discovered grace demands
A new and nobler song.
2 Say to the nations, Jesus came
A guilty world to save;
From vice and error to reclaim,
And rescue from the grave.
3 Let heaven proclaim the joyful day;
Joy through the earth be seen;
Let cities shine in bright array,
And fields in cheerful green.
4 With pleasure lift your wondering eyes,
Ye islands of the sea!
Ye mountains! sink; ye valleys! rise;
Prepare the Saviour's way.
5 Behold he comes! he comes to bless
The nations from their God;
To show the world his righteousness,
And send his truth abroad.
6 Again he comes, with powerful voice
To wake the numerous dead,
And call his churches to rejoice
With their exalted head.
7 When he, who is our life, draws near,
And all his glory view,
His faithful servants shall appear
With him in glory too.
The Mission of Jesus Christ. Luke iv. 18, 19.
1 HARK, the glad sound! the Saviour comes ! The Saviour promised long!
Let every heart a throne prepare;
And every voice a song!
2 On him the spirit largely poured,
Exerts its holy fire;
Wisdom and might, and zeal and love,
His sacred breast inspire.
3 He comes the prisoner to release,
In wretched bondage held;
The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
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