Happy the man whose hopes rely
On Israel's God; he made the sky,
And earth, and seas, with all their train: His truth for ever stands secure!
He saves th' opprest, he feeds the poor,
And none shall find his promise vain.
The Lord pours eye-sight on the blind;
The Lord supports the fainting mind;
He sends the lab'ring conscience peace,
He helps the stranger in distress,
The widows and the fatherless,
And grants the pris'ner sweet release.
I'll praise him while he lends me breath,
And when my voice is lost in death,
Praise shall employ my nobler pow'rs:
My days of praise shall ne'er be past,
While life, and thought, and being last,
Or immortality endures.
31. Praise to God.
Love divine, all love excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down!
Fix in us thine humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown:
Jesus! Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love thou art,
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter ev'ry trembling heart!
Breathe, O breathe, thy loving Spirit
Into ev'ry troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit,
Let us find thy promis'd rest:
Take away the love of sinning,
Alpha and Omega be,
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty, to deliver,
Let us all thy life receive!
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more thy temples leave!
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thine hosts above,
Pray and praise thee without ceasing,
Glory in thy precious love.
Finish, then, thy new creation,
Pure, unspotted, may we be,
Let us see thy great salvation
Perfectly restor'd by thee!
Chang'd from glory into glory,
'Till in heav'n we take our place, 'Till we cast our crowns before thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
LORD, thou hast been thy children's God,
All-powerful, wise, and good, and just;
In every age their safe abode,
Their hope, their refuge, and their trust.
Before thy word gave nature birth,
Or spread the starry heavens abroad,
Or form'd the varied face of earth,
From everlasting thou art God.
Great Father of eternity,
How short are ages in thy sight!
A thousand years, how swift they fly,
Like one short silent watch of night!
Uncertain life, how soon it flies!
Dream of an hour, how short our bloom! Like spring's gay verdure now we rise,
Cut down, ere night, to fill the tomb.
Teach us to count our short'ning days,
And with true diligence apply
Our hearts to wisdom's sacred ways,
That we may learn to live and die.
33. Praise to God.
LORD and God of heav'nly pow'rs, Hallelujah.
Theirs, and O benignly ours,
Glorious King, let earth proclaim,
Worms attempt to sing thy name.
Thee to laud in songs divine
Angels and archangels join;
We with them our voices raise,
Echoing thine eternal praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord!!
Live, by heav'n and earth ador'd:
Full of thee, they ever cry,
Glory be to God on high.'
My Maker and my King,
To thee my all I owe;
Thy sov'reign bounty is the spring
From whence my blessings flow.
Thou ever good and kind,
A thousand reasons move,
A thousand obligations bind
My heart to grateful love.
The creature of thy hand,
On thee alone I live;
My God, thy benefits demand
More praise than life can give.
Oh! what can I impart,
When all is thine before?
Thy love demands a thankful heart;
The gift, alas! how poor!
Shall I withhold thy due?
And shall my passions rove?
Lord, form this wand'ring heart anew,
And fill it with thy love.
My mind, by thy all-quick'ning pow'r,
From low desires set free;
Unite my scatter'd thoughts, and fix,
My love entire on thee.
Father, thy long-lost son receive;
Saviour, thy purchase own;
Blest Comforter, with peace and joy
Thy new-made creature crown.
38. Address to God.
My God, my hope, if thou art mine, Why should my soul with sorrow pine? On thee alone I cast my care,
O leave me not in dark despair.
Though ev'ry comfort should depart,
And life forsake this drooping heart,
One smile from thee, one blissful ray,
Can chase the shades of death away.
My God, my life, if thou appear,
Not death itself can make me fear;
Thy presence cheers the sable gloom.
And gilds the horrors of the tomb.
Not all its horrors can affright
If thou appear, my God, my light;
Thy love shall all my fears controul,
And glory dawn around my soul.
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