6.

By all his works above

His honours be exprest;

But saints, who taste his saving love, Should sing his praises best.

79. P. M. NEEDHAM.
Universal praise.

1.

COME, all my powers, unite
To praise the' eternal King,
The great Invisible,

Of life and light the spring:
Parent of good, Almighty God,

The earth and heavens obey thy nod.

2.

All ye in heaven that dwell,
And ye on earth, join all:

Him first and last and best

With cheerful voice extol:

He feels no change, nor fears an end; His greatness who shall comprehend?

3.

Thou sun, of this great world Both eye and quickening soul, Whose beams extensive reach The north and southern pole, Thy greater Lord rejoice to praise, Who deck'd thy orb with golden rays.

4.

Thou moon, fair queen of night, Who meet'st the orient sun, Now, hastening in thy course, His nearest beams dost shun: Praise him who all thy wanderings guides, And bade thee rule the swelling tides.

5.

Ye creatures chief in rank, For whom earth, teeming, smiles, And ever-bounteous heaven In choicest gifts distills; Ye that may God your father call, "Crown the great hymn," be tongue for all.

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.

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.

3.

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.

4.

Wake, all ye soaring throngs, and sing;
Ye cheerful warblers of the spring,
Harmonious anthems raise

To him who shaped your finer mould,
Who tipp'd your glittering wings with gold,
And tuned your voice to praise.

5.

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.

81. L. M.

God the universal benefactor.

1.

GOD of the universe, whose hand
Has sown with suns the fields of space,
Round which, obeying thy command,
The peopled worlds fulfill their race;

2.

How vast the region, where thy will Existence, form and order gives; Pleased the wide cup with joy to fill For all that grows, and feels, and lives.

3.

Lord, while we thank thee, let us learn
Beneficence to all below;

Those praise thee best whose bosoms burn To spread the gifts from thee that flow.

4.

So at the awful hour of change

Our souls the bonds of death shall tear, Through the whole starry vast to range, Thy bounty to admire and share.

82. c. M.

FLEXMAN.

God our constant benefactor.

1.

GREAT God! to thee our grateful tongues

United thanks shall raise: Inspire our hearts to tune the songs Which celebrate thy praise.

2.

From thine almighty forming hand
We drew our vital powers:
Our time revolves at thy command,
In all its circling hours.

3.

Thy power, our ever present guard,
From every ill defends;

While numerous dangers hover round,
Our help from thee descends.

4.

Beneath the shadow of thy wings
How sweet is our repose!
The morning light renews the springs
From which our comfort flows.

5.

In celebration of thy praise

May we employ our breath!
And, walking steadfast in thy ways,
We'll triumph over death.

83. L. M.

DODDRIDGE.

God our refuge through all generations.

1.

THOU, Lord, through every changing scene
Hast to thy saints a refuge been;
Through every age, eternal God,

Their pleasing home, their safe abode.

2.

In thee our fathers sought their rest;
In thee our fathers still are blest;
And while the tomb confines their dust,
In thee their souls abide and trust.

3.

Lo, we are risen, a feeble race,
Awhile to fill our fathers' place;
Our helpless state with pity view,
And let us share their refuge too.

4.

Through all the thorny paths we trace
In this uncertain wilderness,

When friends desert and foes invade,
Revive our heart and guard our head.