Should all created blessings fade,
And mourning nature, disarray'd,
Deplore her ev'ry charm withdrawn,
Light, hope, and joy, for ever gone;
Though nought remain below the sky
To please my taste, my ear, my eye,
Be thou my hope, my life, my light,
Amid the universal night.
My God, be thou for ever nigh;
Beneath the radiance of thine eye
My hope, my joy shall ever rise,
And centre in eternal joys.
39. Address to God..
O THOU, whose tender mercy hears
Contrition's humble cry,
Whose hand indulgent wipes the tears.
From sorrow's weeping eye:
See, low before thy throne of grace,
A wretched wand'rer mourn!
Thyself hast bid me seek thy face;
Thyself hast said, 'Return.'
And shall my guilty fears prevail
To drive me from thy feet?
Thy word of promise cannot fail,
My tow'r of safe retreat,
Shout to the Lord, ye surging seas,
In your eternal roar;
Let wave to wave resound his praise,
And shore reply to shore.
While monsters, sporting on the flood,
In scaly silver shine,
Speak terribly their Maker, God,
And lash the foaming brine.
But gentler things shall tune his name
To softer notes than these,
Young zephyrs breathing o'er the stream,
Or whisp'ring thro' the trees.
Wave your tall heads, ye lofty pines,
To him that bids ye grow;
Sweet clusters bend the fruitful vines
On ev'ry thankful bough.
Let the shrill birds his honours raise,
And climb the morning sky;
While grov'ling beasts attempt his praise
In hoarser harmony.
Thus, while the meaner creatures sing,
Ye mortals, take the sound,
Echo the glories of your King
Thro' all the nations round.
RAISE your triumphant songs
To an immortal tune;
Let the wide earth resound the deeds
Celestial grace has done.
Sing how eternal love
Its chief beloved chose,
And bid him raise our wretched race
From their abyss of woes.
His hand no thunder bears,
No terror clothes his brow;
No bolts to drive our guilty souls
To fiercer flames below.
'Twas mercy fill'd the throne,
And wrath stood silent by,
When Christ was sent with pardons down
To rebels doom'd to die.
Now, sinners, dry your tears,
Let hopeless sorrows cease;
Bow to the sceptre of his love,
And take the offer'd peace.
May we obey the call!
And lay an humble claim
To the salvation he hath brought,
And love, and praise his name.
Praise for Divine Goodness.
SWEET is the mem'ry of thy grace,
My God, my heav'nly King;
Let age to age thy righteousness
In sounds of glory sing.
God reigns on high, but not confines
His goodness to the skies;
Thro' the whole earth his bounty shines,
And ev'ry want supplies.
With longing eyes thy creatures wait
On thee for daily food,
Thy lib'ral hand provides their meat,
And fills their mouths with good.
How kind are thy compassions, Lord!
How slow thine anger moves!
But soon he sends his pard'ning word,
To cheer the souls he loves.
Creatures, with all their endless race,
Thy pow'r and praise proclaim,
But saints, that taste thy richer grace,
Delight to bless thy name.
46. Praise to a faithful God,
To God, the only wise,
Our Saviour and our King, Let all the saints below the skies
Their humble praises bring.
'Tis his almighty love,
His counsel and his care,
Preserves us safe from sin and death,
And ev'ry hurtful snare.
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.
To our Redeemer God
Wisdom and pow'r belongs,
Immortal crowns of majesty,
And everlasting songs.
47. Praise the God of Abraham. ·
THE God of Abr'ham praise,
Who reigns enthron'd above;
Ancient of everlasting days,
And God of love:
Jehovah, great I AM,
By earth and heav'n confest,
I bow and bless the sacred name,
The God of Abr❜ham praise,
At whose supreme command
From earth I rise, and seek the joys
At his right hand :
I all on earth forsake,
Its wisdom, fame, and pow'r ; And him my only portion make, My shield and tow'r.
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