5 Could I love thy saints to meet,
Choose the ways I once abhorr'd,
Find at times the promise sweet,
If I did not love thee. Lord?
6 Saviour! let me love thee more,
If I love at all, I pray:
If I have not lov'd before,
Help me to begin to-day.
1 THE God of Abraham praise,
Who reigns enthron'd above;
Ancient of everlasting days,
And God of love;
Jehovah, Great I AM,
By earth and heaven confess'd;
I bow, and bless the sacred name
For ever bless'd.
2 The God of Abraham praise,
At whose supreme command
From earth I rise, and seek the joys
At his right hand:
I all on earth forsake,
Its wisdom, fame and pow'r;
And him my only portion make,
My shield and tow'r.
3 He by himself hath sworn,
I on his oath depend,
I shall, on angel wings upborne,
To heaven ascend:
I shall behold his face,
I shall his power adore,
And sing the wonders of his grace
For evermore.
4 There dwells the Lord, our King,
The Lord, our righteousness,
Triumphant o'er the world and sin,
The Prince of peace;
On Zion's sacred height
His kingdom he maintains,
And, glorious, with his saints in light,
For ever reigns.
5 The God who reigns on high
The great archangels sing;
And, "Holy, Holy, Holy," cry,
Almighty King,
"Who was, and is the same,
"And evermore shall be, "Jehovah, Father, Great I Am! "We worship thee."
6 The whole triumphant host
Give thanks to God on high;
Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
They ever cry:
Hail, Abraham's God and mine,
I join the heavenly lays;
All might and majesty are thine,
And endless praise.
1 BE joyful in God, all ye lands of the earth, O serve him with gladness and fear;
Exult in his presence with music and mirth, With love and devotion draw near.
2 For Jehovah is God,-and Jehovah alone, Creator and ruler o'er all;
And we are his people, his sceptre we own; His sheep, and we follow his call.
3 O enter his gates with thanksgiving and song, Your vows in his temple proclaim;
His praise with melodious accordance prolong, And bless his adorable name.
4 For good is the Lord, inexpressibly good,
And we are the work of his hand;
His mercy and truth from eternity stood,
And shall to eternity stand.
1 BEFORE Jehovah's awful throne, Ye nations, bow with sacred joy's
Know that the Lord is God alone;
He can create, and he destroy.
2 His sov❜reign pow'r, without our aid,
Made us of clay, and form'd us men;
And when like wand'ring sheep we stray'd,
He brought us to his fold again.
3 We are his people, we his care,
Our souls, and all our mortal frame;
What lasting honours shall we rear,
Almighty Maker, to thy name?
4 We'll crowd thy gates with thankful songs,
High as the heaven our voices raise;
And earth, with her ten thousand tongues,
Shall fill thy courts with sounding praise.
5 Wide as the world is thy command,
Vast as eternity thy love;
Firm as a rock thy truth must stand,
When rolling years shall cease to move.
HYMN 155.
(III. 1.)
1 SONGS of praise the angels sang;
Heaven with hallelujahs rang,
When Jehovah's work begun,
When he spake and it was done.
2 Songs of praise awoke the morn,
When the prince of peace was born;
Songs of praise arose, when he
Captive led captivity.
3 Heaven and earth must pass away;
Songs of praise shall crown that day:
God will make new heavens and earth:
Songs of praise shall hail their birth.
4 And shall man alone be dumb
Till that glorious kingdom come?
No; the church delights to raise
Psalms and hymns, and songs of praise.
5 Saints below, with heart and voice,
Still in songs of praise rejoice;
Learning here by faith and love,
Songs of praise to sing above.
6 Borne upon their latest breath
Songs of praise shall conquer death;
Then, amidst eternal joy,
Songs of praise their powers employ.
1 FATHER, whate'er of earthly bliss
Thy sov'reign will denies,
Accepted at thy throne, let this,
My humble pray'r arise-
2 Give me a calm and thankful heart,
From every murmur free;
The blessings of thy grace impart,
And make me live to thee:
3 Let the sweet hope that thou art mine
My life and death attend,
Thy presence through my journey shine,
And crown my journey's end.
1 BE still, my heart! these anxious cares
To thee are burdens, thorns, and snares;
They cast dishonour on thy Lord,
And contradict his gracious word.
2 Brought safely by his hand thus far,
Why wilt thou now give place to fear?
How canst thou want if he provide,
Or lose thy way with such a guide?
3 When first before his mercy-seat,
Thou didst to him thy all commit;
He gave thee warrant from that hour,
To trust his wisdom, love, and power.
4 Did ever trouble yet befall,
And he refuse to hear thy call?
And has he not his promise past,
That thou shalt overcome at last?
5 Though rough and thorny be the road,
It leads thee home apace to God;
Then count thy present trials small,
For heaven will make amends for all.
1 HEAR, gracious God! my humble moan, To thee I breathe my sighs;
When will the mournful night be gone?
When shall my joys arise?
2 Yet, though my soul in darkness mourns, Thy promise is my stay;
Here would I rest till light returns:
Thy presence makes my day.
3 Come, Lord, and with celestial peace
Relieve my aching heart;
O smile, and bid my sorrows cease,
And all their gloom depart.
4 Then shall my drooping spirit rise,
And bless thy healing rays,
And change these deep complaining sighs
For songs of sacred praise.
HYMN 159.
Psalm xlii. 1—5.
S, panting in the sultry beam,
The hart desires the cooling stream,
So to thy presence, Lord, I flee,
So longs my soul, O God, for thee;
Athirst to taste thy living grace,
And see thy glory, face to face.
2 But rising griefs distress my soul,
And tears on tears successive roll;
For many an evil voice is near,
To chide my wo, and mock my fear;
And silent mem❜ry weeps alone
O'er hours of peace and gladness flown.
3 For I have walk'd the happy round
That 'circles Zion's holy ground,
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