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THE CREATION.

BEGIN, my soul, th' exalted lay,
Let each enraptur'd thought obey,
And praise th' Almighty's name ;
Lo! heaven and earth, and seas and skies,
In one melodious concert rise

To swell th' inspiring theme.

Ye fields of light, celestial plains,
Where gay transporting beauty reigns,
Ye scenes divinely fair!

Your Maker's wond'rous power proclaim,
Tell how he form'd your shining frame,
And breath'd the fluid air.

Ye angels catch the thrilling sound,
While all th' adoring thrones around
His boundless mercy sing;
Let every list'ning saint above,
Wake all the tuneful soul of love,
And touch the sweetest string.

Join, ye loud spheres, ye vocal choir :
Thou dazzling orb of liquid fire,

The mighty chorus aid!

Soon as gray ev'ning gilds the plain,
Thou moon protract the melting strain

And praise him in the shade.

Thou heaven of heavens, his vast abode,
Ye clouds, proclaim your forming God,
Who called yon worlds from night:
"Ye shades disperse," th' Eternal said;
At once th' involving darkness fled,
And nature sprung to light.

Whate'er a blooming world contains,
That wings the air, that skims the plains,
United praise bestow:

Ye dragons, sound his awful name
To heaven aloud, and roar acclaim
Ye swelling deeps below;

Let ev'ry element rejoice

Ye thunders burst with awful voice,
To him who bade you roll :
His praise in soften'd notes declare,
Each whisp'ring breeze of yielding air,
And breathe it to the soul:

To Him, ye graceful cedars bow,
Ye towering mountains bending low,
Your great Creator own;

Tell, when affrighted nature shook,
How Sinai kindl'd at his look,

And trembl'd at his frown.

Ye flocks that haunt the humble vale, Ye insects fluttering on the gale,

In mutual concert rise:

Crop the gay rose's vermeil bloom,
And waft its spoils a sweet perfume,
In incense to the skies.

Wake, all ye mountain tribes, and sing;
Ye plumy warblers of the spring,
Harmonious anthems raise

To him who shap's your finer mould,
Who tipp'd your glitt'ring wings with gold,
And tun'd your voice to praise.

Let man, by nobler passions sway'd,
The feeling heart, the judging head,
In heavenly praise employ;

Spread his tremendous name around,

Till heaven's broad arch rings back the sound, The gen'ral burst of joy.

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MIGHTY God, while angels bless thee,

May an infant lisp thy name? Lord of men as well as angels,

Thou art every creature's theme.

Lord of every land and nation,
Ancient of eternal days:
Sounded through the wide creation,
Be thy just and lawful praise.

For the grandeur of thy nature

Grand beyond a seraph's thought; For created works of power,

Works with skill and kindness wrought;

For thy providence. that governs

Through thine empire's wide domain,
Wings an angel, guides a sparrow;
Blessed be thy gentle reign.

But thy rich, thy free redemption,
Dark through brightness all along;
Thought is poor, and poor expression ;
Who dare sing that awful song?

Brightness of the Father's glory,
Shall thy praise unutter'd lie?
Fly, my tongue, such guilty silence;
Sing the Lord who came to die.

Did archangels sing thy coming?

Did the shepherds learn their lays?
Shame would cover me ungrateful,
Should my tongue refuse to praise.

From the highest throne in glory,
To the cross of deepest woe;
All to ransom guilty captives!
Flow, my praise, for ever flow.

Go, return, immortal Saviour,

Leave thy footstool, take thy throne;

Thence return and reign for ever,
Be the kingdom all thine own.

THE GREAT PHYSICIAN.

DEEP are the wounds which sin has made; Where shall the sinner find a cure?

In vain, alas is nature's aid;

The work exceeds all nature's pow'r.

And can no sov'reign balm be found;
And is no kind physician nigh,
To ease the pain, and heal the wound
Ere life and hope for ever fly.

There is a great Physician near,
Look up, O fainting soul, and live;
See in his heavenly smiles appear
Such ease as nature cannot give.

See in thy dying Saviour's blood
Life, health, and bliss abundant flow ;

'Tis only this all-powerful flood

Can ease thy pain, and heal thy woe.

Sin throws in vain its pointed dart,
For now a sov'reign cure is found,-

A cordial for the fainting heart,

balm for ev'ry painful wound.

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