Page images
PDF
EPUB

For foes without and fears within,
The devil, and indwelling sin,
Afflict my soul; beneath their weight
My heart is sunk and desolate.

Yet in the midst of all my fears
I call to mind the former years,
The wonders Thou hast wrought of old,
Thy mercies great and manifold,

And straight to Thee my hands I raise
In earnest prayer and thankful praise;
O hear me, then, and let me prove
Once more thy faithfulness and love.

Teach me to know thy word and will,
Let thy good spirit guide me still;
O let thy justice interpose

To save me from my soul's worst foes.

PSALM 114.

God the author of national blessings.

BLEST be the Lord! whose heavenly power
His people keeps in danger's hour,
Their everlasting strength and shield,
Who arms them for the battle-field.

Still let thy presence interpose
To save us from our threatening foes;
Still, Lord, our nation's strength increase,
And bless our land with health and peace.

So shall our folds their thousands yield,
And the rich harvests crown the field;
Our oxen strong for constant toil,
Shall till with ease the fruitful soil.

No more our streets the voice of fear,
Or sorrow, or complaint, shall hear;
No want nor slavery shall they know,
Domestic feud, nor foreign foe.

Blest are the people, blest their case,
Who do thy service, Lord, embrace,
Who on thy help alone depend,

And have Thee for their God and Friend.

PSALM 148.

The whole creation exhorted to join in celebrating the praises of its Maker.

YE boundless realms of joy
Exalt your Maker's fame,
His praise your song employ
Above the starry frame;
Your voices raise

Ye cherubim,
And seraphim,

To sing his praise.

Thou moon that rul'st the night,
Thou sun that guid'st the day,

Ye glittering stars of light,

To Him your homage pay;
His praise declare

Ye heavens above,
And clouds that move
In liquid air.

Let them adore the Lord,

And praise his holy name,
By whose Almighty word,
They all from nothing came;

And all shall last
From changes free;
His firm decree
Stands ever fast.

Ye saints who share his grace,
Whom He exalts on high,
And ye, the faithful race,
Who still to Him are nigh,
In triumph raise
Your grateful voice,
And still rejoice
The Lord to praise.

PSALM 150.

A concluding exhortation to universal praise.

O PRAISE the Lord in that blest place,

From whence his goodness largely flows; Praise Him in heaven, where He his face Unveiled in perfect glory shows.

Praise, O praise our heavenly King,
For all the wonders of his might;

Let every voice unite to sing

His grace and goodness infinite.

Let the shrill trumpet sound his praise,
And harp, and lute, and psaltery join;
Its loudest note the organ raise

To magnify his name divine.

Let all that vital breath enjoy,

The breath He does to them afford,
In just returns of praise employ;
Let every creature praise the Lord.

THE HYMNS.

PART II.

HYMN 1.

For the Sabbath Morning.

AGAIN the day returns of holy rest,

Which, when He made the world, Jehovah blest,

When, like his own, he bade our labours

cease,

And all be piety, and all be peace.

Let us devote this consecrated day
To learn his will, and all we learn obey;
In pure religion's hallowed duties share,
And join in penitence, and join in prayer.

So shall the God of mercy, pleased, receive
That only tribute man has power to give,
So shall He hear, while fervently we raise
Our choral harmony in hymns of praise.

Father of heaven! in whom our hopes confide, Whose power defends us, and whose precepts guide,

In life our Guardian, and in death our Friend, Glory supreme be Thine till time shall end.

HYMN 2.

For the Sabbath.

GREAT Shepherd of thy people hear,
Thy presence now display;
As Thou hast given a place for prayer,
So give us hearts to pray.

Within these walls let holy peace,
And love and concord dwell;
Here give the troubled conscience ease,
The wounded spirit heal.

The hearing ear, the melting eye,
The contrite heart bestow;
And shine upon us from on high,
To make our graces grow.

May we in faith receive thy word,
In faith present our prayers;
And in the presence of our Lord
Unbosom all our cares.

Show us some token of thy love,
Our fainting hope to raise ;
And pour thy blessings from above,
That we may render praise.

HYMN 3.

For the Sabbath.

LORD, again we meet before Thee,
Spared to see another day;
Help us, humbly we implore Thee,
Worthily to praise and pray.

« PreviousContinue »