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86. P. M.

The Book of Nature.

1 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.

2 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.

3 Yet their divine instructions run
Far as the journeys of the sun;

And distant nations know their voice:
The sun, in robes of splendour dress'd,
Breaks from the chambers of the east,

Moves round, and makes the earth rejoice.
4 Where'er he spreads his beams abroad,
He smiles and speaks his Maker GOD:-
All nature joins to show thy praise:
Thus GoD in ev'ry creature shines:
Bright in the book of nature's lines,

But brighter in the book of grace.

BOOK II,

HYMNS RELATING TO CHRISTIAN WORSHIP.

87.

P. M.

The Book of Grace.

HOW precious, LORD! thy holy word!

What light and joy its truths afford To souls benighted and distress'd! Thy precepts guide our doubtful way; Thy fear forbids our feet to stray;

Thy promise leads the heart to rest.

2 Thy threat'nings wake our slumb'ring eyes,
And warn us where our danger lies;
While gospel truth and grace divine
Inspire the heart with filial love,
Exalt and fix our hopes above,

And make the willing spirit thine.

3 From the discoveries of thy law,
The perfect rules of life we draw;

Be these our study and delight:
May every deed, and word, and thought,
To truth and duty's standard brought,
Become well pleasing in thy sight.
4 Oh may thy word those faults reveal,
Which blind self-love may yet conceal,

And from presumptuous sins restrain!
Thus taught to use the book of grace,
We'll raise a grateful song of praise
That we possess it not in vain.

1

A

88. c. M.

Praise for Divine Revelation.
GLORY gilds the sacred page,
Majestic as the sun;

It gives a light to every age;
It gives, but borrows none.

2 The hand which gave it, still supplies
The gracious light and heat:

Its truths upon the nations rise;
They rise, but never set.

3 Let endless thanks, O God! be thine,
For such a bright display,

As makes a world of darkness shine
With beams of heavenly day.

4 With steadfast zeal may I pursue
The steps of him I love,
Till glory breaks upon my view,
In brighter worlds above.

89. C. M.

Instruction and Consolation from the Scriptures.

1 LORD! I would make thy word my joy,

My lasting heritage;
May this my noblest powers employ,
My warmest thoughts engage.

2 'Tis like the sun, a heavenly light,
Which guides us all the day;
And through the dangers of the night,
A lamp to lead our way.
3 Thy precepts oft would I survey,
And keep thy laws in sight,

Through all the business of the day,
To guide my actions right.

4 Thy truth's a land of wealth unknown,
Where springs of life arise;
There seeds of endless bliss are sown,
There boundless glory lies.

5 The best relief which mourners have,
It makes our sorrows bless'd;
Shows us a home beyond the grave,
And an eternal rest.

90. C. M.

The Word of God the best Guide of Youth.
morn of life, how fair and gay!
How cheering and how new!

1 THE

What hopes illume each opening day,
And brighten every view!

2 Youth's ardent minds, with joy elate,
Elastic and sincere,

Suspect no ills that may await,
Nor yield a thought to fear.

3 But slippery is the path they tread,
In pleasure's dangerous way;

A thousand snares around them spread,
And oft their feet betray.

4 How shall they, then, their course pursue
Through life's uncertain road?

What friendly hand will point their view
To duty and to GOD?

5 In God's own word the way is sure,
And clear to every eye:

It leads us in a path secure,

To brighter worlds on high.

6 Oh be this word our constant guide,
Our steadfast hope and trust!
This ne'er can fail, though all beside
Shall mingle with the dust.

91. c. M.

Prospectof the Universal spread of Spiritual Blessings
SHINE, mighty God! on Britain shine,
With beams of heavenly grace ;
Reveal thy power through all our coasts,
And show thy smiling face.

2 Soon may thy name from shore to shore,
Sound all the earth abroad;
And distant nations know and love
Their Saviour and their GOD!

3 The common Parent, Lord of all,
Who sits enthron'd above,

With perfect wisdom rules the world,
And with impartial love.

4 The day will come, the happy day,
(Such his eternal will,)

When light, and truth, and grace divine,
The spacious earth shall fill.

5 Cop will diffuse the blessings round,
So rico scatter'd here:
Till the creation's utmost bound,
Shall see, adore, aird fear.

92. L. M.

Divine Love displayed in the Blessings of the Gospe 1 TO thee, my heart, Eternal King!

Would now its thankful tribute bring;

To thee its humble homage raise,
In songs of ardent, grateful praise.

2 All nature shows thy boundless love,
In worlds below, and worlds above;
But in thy blessed word, I trace
The richer glories of thy grace.

3 There what delightful truths are given!
There Jesus shows the way to heaven;
His name salutes my listening ear,
Revives my heart, and checks my fear.
4 There Jesus bids our sorrows cease,
And gives the labouring conscience peace;
Raises our grateful feelings high,
And points to mansions in the sky.

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