And need we then, O Lord, repeat the blessing which we crave,
When Thou dost know, before we speak, the thing that we would have?
Mercy! O Lord-mercy we seek ;-this is the total sum;
For mercy, Lord! is all our prayer,-Oh! let Thy mercy come !
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.-Ps. xxiii. 1.
THE Lord my pasture shall prepare,
And lead 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.
Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill,
For Thou, O God! art with me still:
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.
Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious, lonely wilds I stray,
Thy bounty shall my pains beguile;
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden green and verdure crown'd,
And streams shall murmur all around.
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.-Ps. ciii. 1.
WHEN all Thy mercies, O
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view I'm lost,
In wonder, love, and praise.
Oh! how shall words with equal warmth,
The gratitude declare,
That glows within my beating heart?—
But Thou canst read it there!
Ten thousand thousand goodly gifts,
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
That tastes those gifts with joy.
Through all eternity to Thee
A joyful song I'll raise;
But oh! eternity's too short,
To utter all Thy praise!
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy-work.-Ps. xix. 1.
THE spacious firmament on high,
And all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim,
The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's praise display,
And publishes to every land,
The work of an Almighty hand.
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 :
While 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,
What though in solemn silence all,
Move round this dark terrestrial ball;
What though no real voice nor sound
Amid their radiant orbs be found;
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 !"
WHEN rising from the bed of death,
O'erwhelm'd with guilt and fear,
I see my Maker face to face,
Oh! how shall I appear ?
If now, while pardon may be found,
And mercy may be sought,
My heart with inward horror shrinks,
And trembles at the thought,
When Thou, O Lord! shalt stand display'd,
In majesty severe,
And sit in judgment on my soul,
Oh! how shall I appear?
But Thou hast told the troubled soul,
Which does her sins lament,
Of One who suffer'd unto death,
Her sufferings to prevent,
Then never shall my soul despair,
Her pardon to procure,
Who knows Thine only Son hath died,
To make that pardon sure.
Praise ye the Lord.-Ps. cxlviii. 1.
PRAISE the Lord; ye Heav'ns, adore Him;
Praise Him, Angels, in the height;
Sun and Moon, rejoice before Him;
Praise Him, all ye Stars of light.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Glory be to God on high!
Praise the Lord, for He hath spoken ;
Worlds His mighty voice obey'd:
Laws which never shall be broken,
For their guidance He hath made.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Glory be to God on high!
Praise the Lord, for He is glorious,
Never shall His promise fail;
God hath made His saints.victorious,
Sin and death shall not prevail !
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Glory be to God on high!
Praise the God of our Salvation,
Hosts on high His power proclainı; Heaven and Earth, and all Creation, Laud and magnify His name. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory be to God on high!
"WEEP not for me, but for yourselves,"
The Heavenly Victim said,
When impious men the Lamb of God
To savage slaughter led.
Not for Thy suff'rings, blessed Lord,
Thy death and cruel woes,
We mourn,-but for the fatal cause,
Whence all those sorrows rose.
If still in sin we take delight,
And still our lusts retain,
Vain are those woes to us, and Thou
For us hast died in vain.
Oh! then, before Thy sacred cross,
Repentant let us kneel;
And for those sins which caus'd Thy death Remorse and horror feel.
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