He will present our souls,
Unblemish'd and complete,
Before the glory of his face,
With joys divinely great.
Then all the chosen seed
Shall meet around the throne;
Shall bless the conduct of his grace,
And make his wonders known.
PRAISE to the Lord of boundless might,
With uncreated glories bright:
His presence fills the worlds above;
The unchanging Source of light and love.
2 Our rising world his eye beheld,
When in substantial darkness veil'd;
The shapeless chaos, nature's womb,
Lay buried in the horrid gloom.
3 Let there be light, Jehovah said,
And light o'er all the earth was spread;
Nature array'd in charms unknown,
Gay with its new-born lustre shone.
4 He sees the mind, when lost it lies
In shades of ignorance and vice;
And darts from heaven a vivid ray,
And changes midnight into day.
5 Shine, mighty God, with vigour shine,
On this benighted soul of mine:
And let thy glories stand reveal'd,
As in the Saviour's face beheld.
6 My soul, revived by heaven-born day,
The radiant image shall display;
While all my faculties unite,
To praise the Lord, who gives me light.
THERE seems a voice in every gale,
A tongue in every opening flower,
Which tells, O Lord, the wondrous tale
Of thy indulgence, love, and power.
2 The birds that rise on quivering wing
Appear to hymn their Maker's praise;
And all the mingling sounds of spring
To thee a general chorus raise.
3 And shall my voice, great God, alone
Be mute 'midst nature's loud acclaim?
No, let my heart, with answering tone,
Breathe forth in praise thy holy name.
4 And nature's debt is small to mine;
Thou bad'st her being bounded be;
But, matchless proof of love divine,
Thou gav'st immortal life to me.
5 The Saviour left his heavenly throne
A ransom for my soul to give;
Man's suffering state he made his own,
And stoop'd to die that I might live.
6 But thanks and praise for love so great,
No mortal tongue can e'er express;
Then let me, bow'd before thy feet,
In silence love thee, Lord, and bless.
189.
BEGIN, my soul, the exalted lay;
Let each enraptured thought obey,
And praise the Almighty's name:
Lo! heaven, and earth, and seas, and skies,
In one melodious concert rise,
To swell the inspiring theme.
2 Ye angels, catch the joyful sound, While all the adoring throngs around His wondrous mercy sing;
Let every listening saint above
Wake all the tuneful soul of love,
And touch the sweetest string.
3 Thou heaven of heavens, his vast abode;
Ye clouds, proclaim your forming God;
Ye thunders, speak his power:
Lo! on the lightning's gleamy wing,
In triumph walks the eternal King:
The astonish'd worlds adore.
4 Ye deeps, with roaring billows rise
To join the thunders of the skies;
Praise him who bids you roll:
His praise in softer notes declare,
Each whispering breeze of yielding air,
And breathe it to the soul.
5 Wake, all ye soaring throngs, and sing;
Ye cheerful warblers of the spring,
Harmonious anthems raise
To him who shaped your finer mould,
Who tipt your glittering wings with gold,
And tuned your voice to praise.
6 Let man, by nobler passions sway'd,
The feeling heart, the judging head,
In heavenly praise employ:
Spread the Creator's name around,
Till heaven's broad arch ring back the sound,
The general burst of joy.
FATHER of all, whose powerful voice
Call'd forth this universal frame;
Whose mercies over all rejoice,
Through endless ages still the same.
2 Thou by thy word upholdest all;
Thy bounteous love to all is show'd:
Thou hear'st thy every creature's call,
And fillest every mouth with good.
3 In heaven thou reign'st, enthroned in light,
Nature's expanse beneath thee spread:
Earth, air, and sea before thy sight,
And hell's deep gloom are open laid.
4 Wisdom, and might, and love are thine;
Prostrate before thy face we fall;
Confess thy attributes divine,
And hail thee sovereign Lord of all.
5 Thee, sovereign Lord, let all confess,
That move in earth, or air, or sky;
Revere thy power, thy goodness bless,
Tremble before thy piercing eye:
6 All ye who owe to him your birth,
In praise your every hour employ:
Jehovah reigns! be glad, O earth;
And shout, ye morning stars, for joy.
THE God of Abraham praise, Who reigns enthroned above, Ancient of everlasting days, And God of love!
Jehovah, great I AM!
By earth and heaven confess'd:
I bow and bless the sacred name,
For ever bless'd.
The God of Abraham praise,
At whose supreme command,
From earth I rise, and seek the joys
At his right hand:
I'd all on earth forsake,
Its wisdom, fame, and power;
And him my only portion make,
My shield and tower.
The God of Abraham praise,
Whose all-sufficient grace
Shall guide me all my happy days,
In all his ways:
He calls a worm his friend;
He calls himself my God;
And he shall save me to the end,
Through Jesus' blood.
He by himself hath sworn;
I on his oath depend;
I shall, on eagles' wings upborne,
To heaven ascend:
I shall behold his face;
I shall his power adore;
And sing the wonders of his grace,
For evermore.
All the names that love could find,
All the forms that love could take,
Jesus in himself has join'd,
Thee, my soul, his own to make.
2 Hail! everlasting Lord,
Divine, incarnate Word!
Thee, let all my powers confess;
Thee, my latest breath proclaim;
Help the angel choirs to bless,
Shout the loved Immanuel's name.
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