239

L. M.

ENFIELD'S SEL.

Goodness of God in the Seasons.

1 GREAT God! at whose all-powerful call
At first arose this beauteous frame,
By thee the seasons change, and all
The changing seasons speak thy name.
2 Thy bounty bids the infant year,
From winter storms recovered, rise;
When thousand grateful scenes appear,
Fresh opening to our wondering eyes.
3 O, how delightful 'tis to see

The earth in vernal beauty dressed!
While in each herb, and flower, and tree,
Thy bright perfections shine confessed!
4 Indulgent God! from every part,

Thy plenteous blessings largely flow;
We see, we taste;-let every heart
With grateful love and worship glow.

240

7s. M.

Praise for Blessings.

BARBAULD.

1 PRAISE to God, immortal praise,
For the love that crowns our days;
Bounteous Source of every joy,
Let thy praise our tongues employ.
2 For the blessings of the field,
For the stores the gardens yield,
Clouds that drop refreshing dews,
Suns that temperate warmth diffuse;
3 All that Spring, with bounteous hand,
Scatters o'er the smiling land;

All that liberal Autumn pours
From her rich o'erflowing stores;—

4 These to thee, our God, we owe,
Source whence all our blessings flow;
And for these our souls shall raise
Grateful vows and solemn praise.

241

7s. M.

SACRED LYRICS.

242

Hymn of Thanksgiving.

1 SWELL the anthem, raise the song;
Praises to our God belong;
Saints and angels join to sing
Praises to the heavenly King.
2 Blessings from his liberal hand
Flow around this happy land:
Kept by him, no foes annoy;
Peace and freedom we enjoy.
3 Here, beneath a virtuous sway,
May we cheerfully obey,-
Never feel oppression's rod,-
Ever own and worship God.

4 Hark! the voice of nature sings
Praises to the King of kings;
Let us join the choral song,
And the grateful notes prolong.

1 ETERNAL Source of every joy!
Well may thy praise our lips employ,
While in thy temple we appear,
To hail thee Sovereign of the year.

2 The flowery spring, at thy command,
Perfumes the air and paints the land;
The summer suns with vigor shine,
To raise the corn and cheer the vine.

3 Thy hand, in autumn, richly pours
Through all our coasts redundant stores;
And winters, softened by thy care,

No more the face of horror wear.

4 Seasons, and months, and weeks, and days,
Demand successive songs of praise;
And be the grateful homage paid,
With morning light and evening shade.

243

C. M.

EPISCOPAL COLL.

Remember thy Creator.

1 IN the glad morn of life, when youth
With generous ardor glows,
And shines in all the fairest charms
That beauty can disclose;

2 Deep on thy soul-before its powers
Are yet by vice enslaved —
Be thy Creator's lofty name
And character engraved.

3 For soon the shades of grief may cloud
The sunshine of thy days;

And cares and toils, an endless round,
Encompass all thy ways.

4 True wisdom, early sought and gained,
In age will give thee rest;

244

O then, improve the morn of life,
To make its evening blest!

1 MARK how the swift-winged minutes fly,
And hours still hasten on!

How swift the circling months run round!
How soon the year is gone!

2 How is our debt of love increased
To that sustaining Power,
Who hath upheld our feeble frame,
And blest each rolling hour.

3 For all thy favors, O our God,
Thy goodness we adore;
Thou hast our cup with blessings filled,
And made that cup run o'er.

4 What shall befall in future life,
We would not, Lord, inquire:
To be prepared for all thy will,
Be this our chief desire.

245

8s. & 7s. M.

Anniversary Hymn.

1 GoD of mercy, do thou never
From our offering turn away;
But command a blessing ever
On the memory of this day.

PIERPONT.

2 Light and peace do thou ordain it;
O'er it be no shadow flung,
Let no deadly darkness stain it,
And no clouds be o'er it hung.

3 May the song this people raises,
And its vows to thee addressed,
Mingle with the prayers and praises,
That thou hearest from the blest.

4 When the lips are cold that sing thee,
And the hearts that love thee dust,
Father, then our souls shall bring thee
Holier love and firmer trust.

246

L. M.

Vanity and Shortness of Life.

1 OUR life advancing to its close,

MERRICK.

While scarce its early dawn it knows,
Swift through an empty shade we run,
And vanity and man are one.

2 How many, e'en in youth's gay flower,
Brief pageants of the noontide hour,
Have faded in their brightest bloom,
The early tenants of the tomb!

3 God of my fathers, here, as they,
I walk the pilgrim of a day;
A transient guest, thy works admire,
And instant to my home retire.

4 O Lord of life and seasons, we
Our sole reliance place on thee;
In thee we trust with holy fear,
And bless thee for each circling year.

247

L. M.

1 THY presence, ever-living God,

DODDRIDGE.

Wide through all nature spreads abroad:
Thy watchful eyes, which never sleep,
In every place thy children keep.
2 To thee we now commit our ways,
And still implore thy heavenly grace:
O, let thy face upon us shine!

Still guard and guide us, Lord, as thine.
3 Give us within thy house to raise
Again united songs of praise;
Or, if that joy no more be known,
Give us to meet around thy throne.

248

L. M.

WATTS.

1 FROM all that dwell below the skies
Let the Creator's praise arise;
Let the Redeemer's name be sung
Through every land, by every tongue.
2 Eternal are thy mercies, Lord;
Eternal truth attends thy word:

249

Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
Till suns shall rise to set no more.

1 PART in peace! Is day before us?
Praise his name for life and light:
Are the shadows lengthening o'er us?
Bless his care who guards the night.
2 Part in peace! With deep thanksgiving,
Rendering, as we homeward tread,
Gracious service to the living,
Tranquil memory to the dead,

3 Part in peace! Such are the praises
God, our Maker, loveth best;
Such the worship that upraises
Human hearts to heavenly rest.