O, happy thou! ordain'd to share
Thy Maker's ever constant care:
Thou privileg'd from want shall stand,
And eat the labor of thy hand.
The object of thy wedded love
Prolific as the vine shall prove,
Whose foliage, o'er thy walls display'd.
Spreads wide its amicable shade :
While, as the olive-branches fair,
Around thy board thine infant care
Shall croud, and bid thy heart o'erflow
With joys that only parents know.
Hail, favor'd man! from Sion's tow'r
Thy God on thee his gifts shall show'r :
Thou, thankful, to thy latest day
Shalt Salem's prosp'ring state survey;
With lengthen'd joy, thine aged eyes
Shall see thy children's children rise,
And peace her healing wings expand
O'er Judah's heav'n-distinguish'd land.
Pardoning Grace.
If from the sons of human birth
Thy wrath its debt demand,
O who, throughout the peopl'd earth,
Beneath that wrath shall stand?
But sin's worst wounds thy mercy heals
As down its pow'rs descend,
The grateful soul their influence feels,
And trembles to offend.
Thee, Lord, I seek, the wise, the just;
My soul, by Thee upheld,
Expectant waits (thy word its trust)
Till Thou thy beams shalt yield.
Not thus intent their longing sight
The wearied watchmen rear;
Not thus intent the growing light
Observe, when morn is near.
Trust then in God; for love in Him,
And grace abundant reign:
He, Jacob, shall thy sons redeem,
And purge their ev'ry stain.
Thine eyes in me nor lofty mind,
Nor haughty look, my God, shall find
Nor earth's vain pomp attracts my view,
Nor honor's prize my thoughts pursue.
Behold me of affections mild,
Behold me humble as the child,
That meek and silent sinks to rest,
Wean'd from the tender parent's breast!
O fonder than that parent, seë
Thy Maker, Israel, cherish thee:
To latest times on Him depend,
Thy guide, thy guardian, and thy friend.
God's Promises to David, and his Seed.
Thus to the Prince of Jesse born
God the reverseless oath has sworn:
Thy throne, protected by my care,
The offspring of thy loins shall heir;
Through distant times their hallow'd line,
Long as to me their hearts incline,
My compact keep, my laws obey,
Shall, uncontroul'd, extend their sway.
Thy walls, O Sion, to thy Lord
His destin'd residence afford;
Here will I rest, nor e'er my love
From thy distinguish'd seat remove.
Amid thy race, O David, here
Salvation shall her standard rear,
While copious on th' anointed head
The heav'nly lamp its beams shall shed:
Thy foes with shame envelop'd o'er,
Their blasted counsels shall deplore,
And see the crown, that binds thy brow,
With unextinguish'd lustre glow.
Ye servants of the eternal King,
Your grateful hymns triumphant sing:
To you I call, the chosen band,
Who take amid his courts your stand.
While gliding round the dusky pole,
The starry orbs in silence roll,
Within his temple's vaulted frame
With lifted hands his praise proclaim;
And He, may He, whose pow'r has made
The earth, and heav'n's wide arch display'd,
From sacred Sion bid thee prove
The blessings of his boundless love.
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