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HYMN 6. II. 1.

Psalm cxlviii.

Praise from the Elements and Worlds.
E fields of light, celestial plains,

YE

Where pure, serene effulgence reigns,
Ye scenes divinely fair,

Your Maker's wondrous power proclaim,
Tell how he formed your shining frame,
And breathed the fluid air.

2 Join, all ye stars, the vocal choir;
Thou dazzling orb of liquid fire,
The mighty chorus aid;

And, soon as evening veils the plain,
Thou moon, prolong the hallowed strain,
And praise him in the shade.

3 Thou heaven of heavens, his vast abode,
Proclaim the glories of thy God;
Ye worlds, declare his might;
He spake the word, and ye were made;
Darkness and dismal chaos fled,

And nature sprung to light.

4 Let every element rejoice;
Ye thunders, burst with awful voice
To him who bids you roll;
His praise in softer notes declare,
Each whispering breeze of yielding air,
And breathe it to the soul.

HYMN 7. L. M.

Psalm xix.

HE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue, ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.

2 The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's power display,
And publishes to every land
The work of an almighty hand.

3 Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale;
And, nightly, to the listening earth,
Repeats the story of her birth;

4 Whilst all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets, in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,

And spread the truth from pole to pole.
5 What though, in solemn silence, all
Move round this dark, terrestrial ball!
What though no real voice nor sound
Amidst their radiant orbs be found!-

6 In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
For ever singing, as they shine,
"The hand that made us is divine."

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III. PROVIDENCE.

HYMN 8. L. M.

TERNAL Source of every joy,

ET

Well may thy praise our lips employ, While in thy temple we appear,

To hail thee, Sovereign of the year.

2 Wide as the wheels of nature roll,
Thy hand supports and guides the whole :
The sun is taught by thee to rise,
And darkness when to veil the skies.

3 The flowery spring, at thy command,
Perfumes the air, and paints the land;
The summer rays with vigour shine,
To raise the corn and cheer the vine.

4 Thy hand in autumn richly pours
Through all our coasts redundant stores;
And winters, softened by thy care,

No more the face of horror wear.

5 Seasons, and months, and weeks, and days,
Demand successive songs of praise;
And be the grateful homage paid,
With morning light and evening shade.
6 Here, in thy house, let incense rise,
And circling Sabbaths bless our eyes,
Till to those lofty heights we soar,
Where days and years revolve no more.

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HYMN 9. II. 3.

Psalm xxiii.

HE Lord my pasture shall prepare, And feed me with a shepherd's care; His presence shall my wants supply, And guard me with a watchful eye; My noon-day walks he shall attend, And all my midnight hours defend. 2 When in the sultry glebe I faint, Or on the thirsty mountain pant, To fertile vales and dewy meads My weary, wandering steps he leads, Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow, Amid the verdant landscape flow. 3 Though in the paths of death I tread, With gloomy horrors overspread, My steadfast heart shall fear no ill, For thou, O Lord, art with me still: Thy friendly crook shall give me aid, And guide me through the dreadful shade.

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HYMN 10. C. M.

HEN all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,

Transported with the view, I'm lost

In wonder, love, and praise!

2 O! how shall words, with equal warmth, The gratitude declare,

That glows within my ravished heart!
But thou canst read it there.

3 Thy providence my life sustained,
And all my wants redressed,
When in the silent womb I lay,
And hung upon the breast.

4 To all my weak complaints and cries.
Thy mercy lent an ear,

E'er yet my feeble thoughts had learned
To form themselves in prayer.

5 Unnumbered comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestowed,

Before my infant heart conceived
From whom those comforts flowed.

6 When in the slippery paths of youth,
With heedless steps, I ran,

Thine arm, unseen, conveyed me safe,
And led me up to man.

7 Through hidden dangers, toils and deaths, It gently cleared my way,

And through the pleasing snares of vice,
More to be feared than they.

8 When worn with sickness, oft hast thou
With health renewed my face;
And, when in sins and sorrows sunk,
Revived my soul with grace.

9 Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss
Has made my cup run o'er,
And, in a kind and faithful friend,
Has doubled all my store.

10 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ,
Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
That tastes those gifts with joy.

11 Through every period of my life
Thy goodness I'll pursue,
And, after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

12 When nature fails, and day and night
Divide thy works no more,

My ever grateful heart, O Lord,
Thy mercy shall adore.

13 Through all eternity, to thee,
A joyful song I'll raise ;
But, O! eternity's too short
To utter all thy praise.

HYMN 11. III. 1.

Psalm xxxi. 15.

My times are in thy hand."

OVEREIGN Ruler of the skies,
Ever gracious, ever wise,

All our times are in thy hand,
All events at thy command.

2 He that formed us in the womb,
He shall guide us to the tomb;
All our ways shall ever be
Ordered by his wise decree.

3 Times of sickness, times of health,
Blighting want, and cheerful wealth,
All our pleasures, all our pains,
Come, and end, as God ordains.
4 May we always own thy hand,
Still to thee surrendered stand,
Know that thou art God alone,
We and ours are all thy own!

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GOD

HYMN 12. C. M.

MOD moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

2 Deep in unfathomable mines,
With never failing skill,

He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his gracious will.

3 Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

4 Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace:

Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

5 His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour:

The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

6 Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain :
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.