LUTON. NEWRY. CHAPEL STREET.
Great God, whose universal sway
The known and unknown worlds obey,
Extend the kingdom of thy Son,
Display his power, exalt his throne.
As rain on meadows newly mown
His spirit sends his blessings down:
His grace on fainting souls distils
Like heavenly dew on thirsty hills.
The heathen lands, that lie beneath
The shades of overspreading death,
Revive amid his dawning light,
And deserts blossom at the sight.
The saints shall flourish in his days,
Dressed in the robes of joy and praise;
Peace, like a river, from his throne,
Shall flow to nations yet unknown.
Great God! and shall thy spirit rest,
In such a feeble heart as mine?
Unworthy dwelling! glorious guest!
How great the favor! how divine!
When doubt prevails, and gloomy fear,
And hope is ready to expire,-
Lord, may thy spirit then be here,
And faith renew, and hope inspire.
And when my raptured heart can say,
I feel thy power and taste thy grace,
Then shall I own thy gentle sway,
And thy redeeming truth embrace.
Let thy good spirit in my heart
Forever dwell, O God of love!
And light and heavenly peace impart
The earnest of thy joys above.
O thou, at whose almighty word,
Fair light at first from darkness shone,
Teach us to know our glorious Lord,
And trace the Father in the Son.
As the bright sun's meridian blaze
O'erwhelms and pains our feeble sight,
But cheers us with his softer rays,
When shining with reflected light,-
So, in thy Son, thy power divine,
Thy wisdom, justice, truth, and love,
The holy Spirit sure is nigh!
'Tis he sustains my fainting heart;
Else would my hope sink down and die,
And every cheering ray depart.
When some glad promise cheers my soul,
I hear thy precious, gracious voice,
And, yielding to its sweet control,
My heart and all my powers rejoice.
Whene'er to call the Saviour mine,
With ardent wish my soul aspires,
It is not less than power divine,
Which animates these strong desires.
Not less than thy redeeming word
Can raise me up from earth and dust,
And bid me cleave to thee, O Lord,
My life, my treasure and my trust!
Great Source of life, our souls confess
The various riches of thy grace;
And crown'd with mercies, we rejoice,
And in thy praise exalt our voice
Thy gracious hand restores our breath,
When verging to the shades of dea
It gently wipes away our tears,
And lengthens life to future years.
Our lives are thine, O loving Lord!
By thee upheld, by thee restored;
And while the hours renew their race,
We still would walk before thy face.
So when our souls by thee are led
Through regions of the silent dead,
Thou wilt confer the light and love,
Of life and truth in realms above.
Go, worship at our Saviour's feet;
See in his face what wonders meet;
Earth is too barren to express
His worth, his glory, or his grace.
The whole creation can afford
But some faint shadows of my Lord:
Nature, to make his beauties known,
Must mingle colours not her own.
O let me climb those higher skies,
Where storms and darkness never rise!
|