O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come;
Be thou our guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home.
HOW blest the man, how safe from harm,
Who to his Saviour flies!
And on his truth and mighty arm,
Alone for help relies!
He from the fowler's secret snare,
Thy trembling feet shall guide;
And shield from plagues that walk the air,
With death's gigantic stride.
His overspreading wings of love,
Shall sure protection yield; While his eternal truth shall prove,
Thine adamantine shield.
What though strange terrors fill the night?
Death's shafts obscure the day?
He thy salvation's strength and light,
Shall chase each fear away.
SWEET is the work, my God, my King,
To praise thy name, give thanks, and sing;
To shew thy love by morning light,.
And talk of all thy truth by night.
Sweet is the day of sacred rest;
No mortal care shall seize my breast:
O may my heart in tune be found,
Like David's harp of solemn sound!
My heart shall triumph in the Lord,
And bless his works, and bless his word:
Thy works of grace, how bright they shine!
How deep thy counsels! how divine!
Fools never raise their thoughts so high;
Like brutes they live, like brutes they die;
Like grass they flourish, till thy breath
Blasts them in everlasting death.
But I shall share a glorious part,
When grace hath well refin'd my heart,
And fresh supplies of grace are shed,
Like holy oil, to cheer my head.
Sin (my worst enemy before)
Shall vex my eyes and ears no more
My inward foes shall all be slain,
Nor Satan break my peace again.
Then shall I see, and hear, and know,
All I desir'd or wish'd below,
And every power find sweet employ,
In that eternal world of joy.
WITH glory clad, with strength array'd,
The Lord that o'er all nature reigns,
The world's foundation strongly laid,
And the vast fabric still sustains.
How sure establish'd is thy throne!
Which shall no change or period see;
For thou, O Lord, and thou alone,
Art God from all eternity.
The floods, O Lord, lift up their voice,
And toss their troubled waves on high:
But thou canst still their threat'ning noise,
And make the angry sea comply.
Thy sov'reign laws are ever sure,
Eternal holiness is thine;
And, Lord, thy people should be pure,
And in thy blest resemblance shine.
BLEST is the man whom God,
In kindness, doth chastise;
Whom, by his word and by his works,
He renders truly wise.
His soul shall dwell at ease,
In seasons of distress,
When God his punishment prepares
For sinners who transgress.
The people of his love,
His love shall ne'er forsake;
His hand in judgment may correct,
But ne'er his cov'nant break.
Thus to the world around,
Thy justice shall be known,
And they who choose thy righteous paths,
Shall in those paths go on.
O God, in slipp'ry ways,
Thy comforts set me free;
My rock, my refuge, and my God,
I rest my all with thee.
O COME, loud anthems let us sing,
Loud thanks to our Almighty King;
For we our voices high should raise,
When our salvation's rock we praise.
Into his presence let us haste,
To thank him for his favors past;
To him address, in joyful songs,
The praise that to his name belongs.
O let us to his courts repair,
And bow with adoration there;
Kneel to the Lord our Maker's name;
His works devout attention claim.
He is our God; his chosen sheep
The gracious Shepherd deigns to keep;
Feeds them in pastures of his grace-
Our grateful souls shall speak his praise.
PSALM XCVI.
NOW let your songs arise,
In new exalted strains;
Let'earth repeat it to the skies,
The Lord, the Saviour reigns!
Sing to the Lord our God,
His sacred name to bless,
His great salvation all abroad
From day to day confess.
'Midst heathen nations place
The glories of his throne;
And let the wonders of his grace
Through all the earth be known.
Great is Jehovah's name,
And great must be his praise:
O'er all the gods, in pow'r supreme,
His mightier arm he'll raise.
The gods the heathen boasts
Nor hear, nor see, nor move:
Jehovah is the Lord of hosts,
Who spread the heav'ns above!
What honours round him wait!
His Majesty's divine!
Beauty and strength, in heav'nly state,
Within his temple shine!
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