The Blessings of Divine Worship.
1 GOD in his earthly temples lays Foundations for his heavenly praise; And loves to see that worship rise, Which forms his offspring for the skies.
2 His mercy every house attends, Whence pure devotion's flame ascends; And ever lends a gracious ear,
Where churches join in praise and prayer.
3 To men of pure and pious hearts, All real good their God imparts; With grace he crowns them here below, And endless glory will bestow.
4 His blessing yields a large increase Of wisdom, and of sacred peace; While ripening holiness and love, Prepare their souls for joys above.
5 Father supreme! whose sovereign sway, All worlds, all beings must obey; May our first wish and object be, On earth, in heaven, to dwell with thee.
Sincerity and Hypocrisy.
1 GoD is a spirit just and wise,
He sees our inmost mind:
In vain to heaven we raise our cries, And leave our souls behind.
2 Nothing but truth before his throne With honour can appear; The formal hypocrites are known Through the disguise they wear.
3 Their lifted eyes salute the skies, Their bended knees, the ground; But God abhors the sacrifice,
Where not the heart is found.
4 Lord! search our thoughts, and try our ways, And make our souls sincere; Then may we stand before thy face, And find acceptance there.
The Excellency of the Gospel.
1 GOD, who in various methods told His holy will to those of old, By his beloved Son, displays His truth and grace in latter days.
2 We have the volume which records Our Saviour's character and words; And in our rising Lord was given The pledge of life, the hope of heaven.
3 There, knowledge of the noblest kind Expands and elevates the mind; The heavenly doctrine, plain as true, Instructs, reproves, and comforts too,
4 How brightly there thy glories shine, Wisdom, and goodness all divine; Whate'er can fill the soul with love, And form it for the joys above.
5 Christians! while grateful songs ye raise, Improve the gospel which ye praise; And aid its progress, till the Lord Hath blessed all nations with his word.
Praise from the Works of God.
1 GREAT cause of all things! Source of life! Sovereign of air, and earth, and sea! All nature feels thy power, and all A silent homage pay to thee.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
But man was formed to rise to heaven; And, blessed with reason's clearer light, He views his Maker through his works, And glows with rapture at the sight.
6 Nor can the thousand songs that rise, Whether from air, or earth, or sea, So well repeat Jehovah's praise, Or raise such sacred harmony.
1 GREATEST of beings! Source of life, Sovereign of air, of earth, and sea! All nature owns thy power, but man A grateful tribute pays to thee.
2 Subject to wants, to thee he looks, And from thy goodness seeks supplies: And when, oppressed with guilt, he mourns, Thy mercy lifts him to the skies.
3 Children, whose infant minds, unformed, Ne'er raised a tender thought to heaven; And men, whom reason lifts to God, Though oft by passion downward driven;
4 Those too, who bend with age and care, And faint and tremble near the tomb; Who, sickening at the present scenes, Sigh for that better world to come;
5 All, great Creator! all are thine; All feel thy providential care; And through each changing scene of life, Alike thy constant pity share.
6 And whether grief oppress the heart; Or whether joy elate the breast; Or life still keep its varying course; Or death invite the heart to rest:
7 All are thy messengers, and all
Thy sacred pleasure, Lord! obey; And all are training man to dwell Nearer to bliss, and nearer thee.
God the Creator and Preserver.
1 GREAT First of beings! mighty Lord! We praise thy glorious name; Produced by thy creating word, Arose this wondrous frame.
2 Thy voice sent forth the high command; "Twas instantly obeyed;
And through thy goodness all things stand, Which by thy skill were made.
3 By thee, through fields of azure, roll Unnumbered worlds above;
Thy mighty hand sustains the whole; Each creature shares thy love.
4 By thee, the sun dispenses heat, And beams of cheering day; By thee, the stars, in order set, At night thy power display.
5 By thee, the earth its product yields, And countless myriads live; And trees and plants adorn the fields, And their rich treasures give.
6 To thee, all-gracious Power! we bow, And would ourselves resign; Accept the praise, accept the vow, And make us wholly thine.
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