12.-L.M. From everlasting to everlasting Thou art God. JEHOVAH reigns, He dwells in light, But ere this spacious world was made, Like floods the angry nations rise, For ever shall thy throne endure, 13.-L.M. For his mercy endureth for ever. GIVE to our God immortal praise ; He fills the sun with morning light, The Jews he freed from Pharaoh's hand, He saw the Gentiles dead in sin, to save, He sent his Son with power Through this vain world He guides our feet, 14.-L.M. Bless the Lord, all his works. THE Lord, how absolute he reigns ! Let every angel bend the knee: Sing of his love in heavenly strains, And speak how fierce his terrors be. High on his throne his glories dwell, An awful throne of shining bliss : How dark thy beams compared to his. Awake, ye tempests, and his fame In sounds of dreadful praise declare; And the sweet whisper of his name Fill every gentler breeze of air. Let clouds and winds and waves agree, To join their praise with blazing fire; Let the firm earth and rolling sea In this eternal song conspire. Ye flowery plains, proclaim his skill ; Valleys lie low before his eye; And let his praise from every hill, Rise tuneful to the neighbouring sky. Ye stubborn oaks, and stately pines, Bend your high branches and adore : Praise him, ye beasts, in different strains ; The lamb must bleat, the lion roar. Birds, ye must make his praise your theme; Nature demands a song from you: While the dumb fish that cut the stream, Leap up and mean his praises too. 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. 15.-L.M. They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure. WHAT is our God, or what his name Nor men can learn, nor angels teach; He dwells concealed in radiant flame, Where neither eyes nor thoughts can reach. The spacious worlds of heavenly light, Compared with Him how short they fall ! They are too dark, and He too bright, Nothing are they, and God is all. He spoke the wondrous word, and lo! Creation rose at his command : Whirlwinds and seas their limits know, Bound in the hollow of his hand. There rests the earth, there roll the spheres, There nature leans, and feels her prop : But his own self-sufficience bears The weight of his own glories up. The tide of creatures ebbs and flows, Measuring their changes by the moon : is one eternal noon. |