Chapter 144
6 "Then, like the morning ray, Shall spring your health and light; Before you, righteousness shall s.h.i.+ne, Behind, my glory bright!"
872. L. M. Dyer.
Public Humiliation.
1 Great Maker of unnumbered worlds, And whom unnumbered worlds adore,-- Whose goodness all thy creatures share, While nature trembles at thy power,--
2 Thine is the hand that moves the spheres, That wakes the wind, and lifts the sea; And man, who moves the lord of earth, Acts but the part a.s.signed by thee.
3 While suppliant crowds implore thine aid, To thee we raise the humble cry; Thine altar is the contrite heart, Thine incense the repentant sigh.
4 O may our land, in this her hour, Confess thy hand, and bless the rod, By penitence make thee her friend, And find in thee a guardian G.o.d.
873. C. M. Rippon's Coll.
Public Supplication.
1 When Abrah'm, full of sacred awe, Before Jehovah stood, And, with an humble, fervent prayer, For guilty Sodom sued,--
2 With what success, what wondrous grace, Was his pet.i.tion crowned!
The Lord would spare, if in this place Ten righteous men were found.
3 And could a single pious soul So rich a boon obtain?
Great G.o.d, and shall a nation cry, And plead with thee in vain?
4 Are not the righteous dear to thee Now, as in ancient times?
Or does this sinful land exceed Gomorrah in her crimes?
5 Still we are thine; we bear thy name; Here yet is thine abode: Long has thy presence blessed our land: Forsake us not,
874. C. M. Rippon's Coll.
Judgments for National Sins Deprecated.
1 Almighty Lord, before thy throne Thy mourning people bend; 'Tis on thy pardoning grace alone Our dying hopes depend.
2 Dark judgments, from thy heavy hand, Thy dreadful power display; Yet mercy spares our guilty land, And still we live to pray.
3 How changed, alas! are truths divine, For error, guilt, and shame!
What impious numbers, bold in sin, Disgrace the Christian name!
4 O, turn us, turn us, mighty Lord; Convert us by thy grace; Then shall our hearts obey thy word, And see again thy face.
5 Then, should oppressing foes invade, We will not yield to fear, Secure of all-sufficient aid, When thou, O G.o.d, art near.
875. L. M. Aikin.
In time of War.
1 While sounds of war are heard around, And death and ruin strow the ground, To thee we look, on thee we call, The Parent and the Lord of all.
2 Thou, who hast stamped on human kind The image of a heaven-born mind, And in a Father's wide embrace Hast cherished all the kindred race,--
3 Great G.o.d, whose powerful hand can bind The raging waves, the furious wind, O, bid the human tempest cease, And hush the maddening world to peace.
4 With reverence may each hostile land Hear and obey that high command, Thy Son's blest errand from above,-- "My creatures, live in mutual love!"
876. 6s. & 4s. M. Montgomery.
Thanksgiving Hymn.
1 The G.o.d of harvest praise; In loud thanksgivings raise Hand, heart, and voice; The valleys smile and sing, Forests and mountains ring, The plains their tribute bring, The streams rejoice.
2 Yea, bless his holy name, And purest thanks proclaim Through all the earth; To glory in your lot Is duty,--but be not G.o.d's benefits forgot, Amidst your mirth.
3 The G.o.d of harvest praise; Hands, hearts, and voices raise, With sweet accord; From field to garner throng, Bearing your sheaves along, And in your harvest song Bless ye the Lord.
877. C. M. Christian Psalmist.
The Same.
1 Fountain of mercy, G.o.d of love, How rich thy bounties are!
The rolling seasons, as they move, Proclaim thy constant care.
2 When in the bosom of the earth The sower hid the grain, Thy goodness marked its secret birth, And sent the early rain.