The Excellency of the Holy Scriptures
1 FATHER of mercies! in thy word
What endless glory shines!
For ever be thy name adored
For these celestial lines!
2 Here, may the wretched sons of want Exhaustless riches find;
Riches above what earth can grant,
And lasting as the mind.
3 Here, the fair tree of knowledge grows,
And yields a free repast;
Sublimer sweets than nature knows,
Invite the longing taste.
4 Here, springs of consolation rise,
To cheer the fainting mind;
And thirsty souls receive supplies,
And sweet refreshment find.
50 may thy gospel ever be
Our study and delight;
And still new beauties may we see,
And still increasing light!
The Acceptable Offering.
1 FATHER of our feeble race!
Wise, beneficent, and kind, Spread o'er nature's ample face, Flows thy goodness unconfined:
Musing in the silent grove,
Or the busy haunts of men,
Still we trace thy wondrous love.
Claiming large returns again.
2 Lord! what offering shall we bring,
At thine altars when we bow?
Hearts, the pure unsullied spring,
Whence the kind affections flow;
Soft compassion's feeling soul,
By the melting eye expressed;
Sympathy, at whose control
Sorrow leaves the wounded breast.
3 Willing hands to lead the blind,
Bind the wounded, feed the poor;
Love, embracing all our kind;
Charity, with liberal store:
Teach us, O thou heavenly King!
Thus to show our grateful mind,
Thus the accepted offering bring,
Love to thee, and all mankind.
The Christian perfected by Divine Grace through Christ. Heb. xiii. 20, 21.
1 FATHER of peace, and God of love! We own thy power to save,
That power by which our Shepherd rose
Victorious o'er the grave.
2 Him from the dead thou brought'st again,
When, through his sacred blood,
Confirmed and sealed for evermore,
The eternal covenant stood.
3 O may thy spirit seal our souls, And mould them to thy will,
That our weak hearts no more may stray,
But keep thy precepts still;
4 That to perfection's sacred height
We nearer still may rise,
And all we think, and all we do,
Be pleasing in thine eyes!
The Loving-kindness of our God.
1 FATHER! to thy kind love we owe
All that is fair and good below;
Bestower of the health that lies
On tearless cheeks and cheerful eyes!
2 Giver of sunshine and of rain!
Ripener of fruits on hill and plain!
Fountain of light, that rayed afar,
Fills the vast urns of sun and star!
3 Who send'st thy storms and frosts to bind
The plagues that rise to waste mankind;
Then breathest, o'er the naked scene,
Spring gales, and life, and tender green!
4 Yet deem we not that thus alone,
Thy mercy and thy love are shown;
For we have learned, with higher praise,
And holier names, to speak thy ways:
5 In wo's dark hour, our kindest stay!
Sole trust when life shall pass away!
Teacher of hopes that light the gloom
Of death, and consecrate the tomb!
6 Patient, with headstrong guilt to bear;
Slow to avenge, and kind to spare;
Listening to prayer, and reconciled
Full quickly to thy erring child!
30. L. M.
Universal Praise. Ps. cxvii.
1 FROM all that dwell below the skies
Let the Creator's praise arise!
Let the Redeemer's name be sung,
Through every land, by every tongue!
2 Eternal are thy mercies, Lord!
Eternal truth attends thy word:
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
Till suns shall rise and set no more.
Divine Power and Grace. Ps. cxxxvi.
1 GIVE thanks to God most high,
The universal Lord,
The sovereign King of kings,
And be his grace adored.
Are still the same;
Have endless praise.
2 His wisdom framed the sun,
To crown the day with light;
The moon and twinkling stars,
To cheer the darksome night.
Earth's utmost ends
His glorious sway
His power obey:
The sky transcends.
3 He doth the wants supply
Of every thing which lives,
He hears affliction's cry,
And pities and forgives.
His mercies sure,
To endless days
Just themes of praise,
Unchanged endure.
4 He sent his only Son,
To save us from our wo,
From error, sin, and death,
And every hurtful foe.
While earth and sky
His saints shall raise
Declare his praise,
His honours high.
5 Give thanks aloud to God, To God, the heavenly King, And let the spacious earth His works and glories sing. power and grace
And let his name
Are still the same;
Have endless praise!
Watts, alt'd.
Divine Power and Grace. Ps. cxxxvi.
1 GIVE to our God immortal praise;
Mercy and truth are all his ways:
Wonders of grace to God belong;
Repeat his mercies in your song.
2 Give to the Lord of lords renown,
The King of kings with glory crown;
His mercies ever shall endure,
When lords and kings are known no more.
3 He built the earth, he spread the sky,
And fixed the starry worlds on high:
Wonders of grace to God belong;
Repeat his mercies in your song.
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