Volume III
Hymns
Vol. III, p. 1677
§Hymn I.
WHEN all thy mercies, O my God! my rising soul surveys, Transported with the view, I'm lost in wonder, love, and praise.
2 O how shall words, with equal warmth, the gratitude declare That glows within my ravish'd heart! but Thou canst read it there.
3 Thy Providence my life sustain'd, and all my wants redrest, When in the silent womb I lay, and hung upon the breast.
4 To all my weak complaints and cries thy mercy lent an ear, Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learn'd to form themselves in pray'r.
5 Unnumber'd comforts to my soul thy tender care bestow'd, Before my infant heart conceiv'd from whom these comforts flow'd.
6 When in the slipp'ry paths of youth with heedless steps I ran; Thine arm, unseen, convey'd me safe, and led me up to man:
7 Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths, it gently clear'd my way; And through the pleasing snares of vice, more to be fear'd than they.
8 When worn with sickness, oft hast thou with health renew'd my face; And, when in sins and sorrows sunk, reviv'd my soul with grace.
9 Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss hath made my cup run o'er; And, in a kind and faithful friend, hath doubled all my store.
10 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts my daily thanks employ; Nor is the least a cheerful heart, that tastes these gifts with joy.
11 Through ev'ry period of my life thy goodness I'll proclaim; And after death, in distant worlds, resume the glorious theme.
12 When nature fails, and day and night divide thy works no more, My ever grateful heart, O Lord, thy mercy shall adore.
13 Through all eternity to thee a joyful song I'll raise; For, oh! eternity's too short to utter all thy praise.
§Hymn II.
THE spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heav'ns, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim.
2 Th' unweary'd sun, from day to day, Does his Creator's pow'r display; And publishes to ev'ry land The work of an Almighty hand.
3 Soon as the ev'ning shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And, nightly to the list'ning earth, Repeats the story of her birth;
4 While all the stars that round her burn. And all the planets in their turn, Confirm the tidings as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole.
5 What though in solemn silence all Move round the dark terrestrial ball? What though no real voice, nor sound, Amidst their radiant orbs be found?
6 In Reason's ear they all rejoice, And utter forth a glorious voice; For ever singing, as they shine, "The hand that made us is divine."
§Hymn III.
WHEN rising from the bed of death, o'erwhelm'd with guilt and fear, I see my Maker face to face, O how shall I appear!
2 If yet while pardon may be found, and mercy may be sought, My heart with inward horror shrinks, and trembles at the thought;
3 When thou, O Lord! shalt stand disclos'd in majesty severe, And sit in judgment on my soul, O how shall I appear!
4 But thou hast told the troubled mind, who doth her sins lament, That timely grief for errors past shall future woe prevent.
5 Then see the sorrows of my heart, ere yet it be too late, And hear my Saviour's dying groans, to give those sorrows weight.
6 For never shall my soul despair of mercy at thy throne, Who knows thine only Son has dy'd thy justice to atone.
§Hymn IV.
BLEST morning! whose first dawning ray, beheld the Son of God Arise triumphant from the grave, and leave his dark abode.
2 Wrapt in the silence of the tomb the great Redeemer lay, Till the revolving skies had brought the third, th' appointed day.
3 Hell and the grave combin'd their force to hold our Lord in vain; Sudden the Conqueror arose, and burst their feeble chain.
4 To thy great name, Almighty Lord! we sacred honours pay, And loud hosannahs shall proclaim the triumphs of the day.
5 Salvation and immortal praise to our victorious King! Let heav'n and earth, and rocks and seas, with glad hosannahs ring.
6 To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the God whom we adore, Be glory, as it was, and is, and shall be evermore.
§Hymn V.
THE hour of my departure's come; I hear the voice that calls me home At last, O Lord! let trouble cease, And let thy servant die in peace.
2 The race appointed I have run; The combat's o'er, the prize is won; And now my witness is on high, And now my record's in the sky.
3 Not in mine innocence I trust; I bow before thee in the dust; And through my Saviour's blood alone I look for mercy at thy throne.
4 I leave the world without a tear, Save for the friends I held so dear; To heal their sorrows, Lord, descend, And to the friendless prove a friend.
5 I come, I come, at thy command, I give my spirit to thy hand; Stretch forth thine everlasting arms, And shield me in the last alarms.
6 The hour of my departure's come; I hear the voice that calls me home; Now, O my God! let trouble cease; Now let thy servant die in peace.