As heretofore
It was, is now,
And shall be so
For evermore.
As Psalm 149.
By angels in heaven,
Of every degree,
And saints upon earth,
All praise be addressed To God in three persons, One God ever blessed; As it has been, now is, And always shall be.
REAT GOD, with wonder and with praise
On all thy works I look ;
But still thy wisdom, power, and grace,
Shine brightest in thy book.
2 The stars, that in their courses roll,
Have much instruction given;
But thy good word informs my soul
How I may soar to heaven.
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 heavenly wonders tell.
7 Then let me love my Bible more,
And take a fresh delight,
By day, to read these wonders o'er,
And meditate by night.
HYMN 2. C. M.
ATHER of mercies, in thy word
What endless glory shines!
For ever be thy name adored,
For these celestial lines.
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.
4 Here the Redeemer's welcome voice
Spreads heavenly peace around;
And life, and everlasting joys,
Attend the blissful sound.
5 O! may these heavenly pages be
My ever dear delight;
And still new beauties may I see,
And still increasing light.
6 Divine Instructer, gracious Lord,
Be thou for ever near;
Teach me to love thy sacred word,
And view my Saviour there.
HYMN 3. C. M.
REAT First of beings, mighty Lord
Of all this wondrous frame,
Produced by thy creating word,
The world from nothing came.
2 Thy voice sent forth the high command ;
'Twas instantly obeyed;
And, through thy goodness, all things stand,
Which by thy power 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 power 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 Inspired with praise, our minds pursue
This wise and noble end-
That all we think, and all we do,
Shall to thine honour tend.
1 LET heaven arise, let earth appear,
The heaven arose, the earth appeared,
At his creating word.
2 But formless was the earth, and void,
Dark, sluggish, and confused,
Till o'er the mass the Spirit moved,
And quickening power diffused.
3 Then spake the Lord omnipotent
The mandate, "Be there light :"
Light darted forth in vivid rays,
And scattered ancient night.
4 The glorious firmament he spread,
To part the earth and sky;
And fixed 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 formed the stars; and placed 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 formed within the watery deep,
Some from the teeming earth.
8 Then, chief o'er all his works below,
Man, honoured man, was made;
His soul with God's pure image stamped,
With innocence arrayed.
9 Completed now the mighty work,
God his creation viewed;
And, pleased with all that he had made,
Pronounced it "very good."
HYMN 5. II. 1.
Psalm cxlviii.
Praise from living Creatures.
EGIN, my soul, the exalted lay;
Let each enraptured thought obey,
And praise the Almighty's name;
Let heaven and earth, and seas and skies,
In one melodious concert, rise,
To swell the inspiring theme.
2 Ye angels, catch the thrilling sound,
While all the adoring thrones around
His boundless mercy sing;
Let every listening saint above
Wake all the tuneful soul of love,
And touch the sweetest string.
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 swayed,
The feeling heart, the judging head,
In heavenly praise employ;
Spread his tremendous Name around,
While heaven's broad arch rings back the sound,
The general burst of joy.
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