Of nature's laws and nature's king
Our tongues shall never cease to sing;
The debt of humble praise we pay :
Father, accept the grateful lay.
74. L. M. GEORGE DYER.
God adored in his works.
GREATEST of beings, source of life,
Sovereign of air, and earth, and sea,
All nature feels thy power, and all
A silent homage pay to thee.
Waked by thy hand, the morning sun
Pours forth to thee its earlier rays,
And spreads thy glories as it climbs,
While raptured worlds look up and praise.
The moon to the deep shades of night Speaks the mild lustre of thy name; While all the stars that cheer the scene Thee the great Lord of light proclaim :
And groves and vales, and rocks and hills,
And every flower, and every tree,
Ten thousand creatures warm with life,
Have each a grateful song for thee.
All, great Creator, all are thine,
All feel thy providential care,
And through each varying scene of life
Thy never-ceasing goodness share.
But man was form'd to rise to heaven;
And, blest with reason's clearer light,
He views his Maker through his works,
And glows with rapture at the sight.
75. P. M.
The book of nature and scripture.
GREAT God, the heaven's well-order'd frame
Declares the glories of thy name:
There thy rich works of wonder shine;
A thousand starry beauties there,
A thousand radiant marks appear
Of boundless power and skill divine.
From night to day, from day to night,
The dawning and the dying light
Lectures of heavenly wisdom read;
With silent eloquence they raise
Our thoughts to our Creator's praise,
And neither sound nor language need.
Yet their divine instructions run
Far as the journeys of the sun,
And every nation knows their voice :
The sun, like some young bridegroom drest,
Breaks from the chambers of the east,
Rolls round, and bids the earth rejoice.
Where'er he spreads his beams abroad,
He smiles, and speaks his maker God:
All nature joins to show thy praise:
Thus God in every creature shines;
Fair is the book of nature's lines,
But fairer is the book of grace.
76. L. M. MRS. TOLLET.
Praise to God.
FROM Vocal air and concave skies
Let wafted hallelujahs sound,
And let the sacred triumphs rise
Till vaulted heaven the notes rebound.
Thou solar orb, whose ruddy beam Compels the shades of night to yield; Thou silver moon, whose fainter gleam Scarce trembles o'er yon azure field:
Ye stars, who circle round the pole,
Illumined with distinguish'd rays;
Instruct your vocal spheres to roll
Symphonious to your Maker's praise.
His name with pious praises sing, Who kindled first the beamy light; Who first commanded you to spring Forth from the cells of ancient night.
Ye active youth in manly prime,
Ye virgins deck'd with blooming grace,
Ye elders press'd by creeping time,
And you the infant tender race,
Your voices raise with mixt acclaim
To praise the universal Lord;
The sole, august, majestic name
O'er earth and distant heaven adored.
77. L. M. WATTS.
Universal praise to God.
LOUD hallelujahs to the Lord,
From distant worlds where creatures dwell:
Let heaven begin the solemn word,
And sound it dreadful down to hell.
The Lord! how absolute he reigns!
Let every angel bend the knee;
Sing of his love in heavenly strains,
His glory and his majesty.
Mortals, can you refrain your tongue
When nature all around you sings?
O for a shout from old and young,
From humble swains, and lofty kings!
Wide as his vast dominion lies,
Make the Creator's name be known;
Loud as his thunder shout his praise,
And sound it lofty as his throne.
Jehovah! 'tis a glorious word: may it dwell on every tongue!
But saints, who best have known the Lord, Are bound to raise the noblest song.
Speak of the wonders of that love
Which Gabriel plays in every chord :
From all below and all above,
Loud hallelujahs to the Lord.
LET every creature join
To praise the eternal God;
Ye heavenly hosts, the song begin,
And sound his name abroad.
Thou sun with golden beams,
And moon with paler rays,
Ye starry lights, ye twinkling flames,
Shine to your Maker's praise.
He built those worlds above,
And fix'd their wondrous frame;
By his command they stand or move,
And ever speak his name.
Ye vapours, when ye rise,
Or fall in showers, or snow,
Ye thunders, murmuring round the skies, His power and glory show.
Wind, hail, and flashing fire,
Agree to praise the Lord,
When ye in dreadful storms conspire
To execute his word.
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