PROVIDENCE KIND AND BOUNTIFUL.
THY kingdom, LORD! for ever stands, While earthly thrones decay; And time submits to thy commands While ages roll away.
Thy sov'reign bounty freely gives Its unexhausted store: And universal nature lives On thy sustaining pow'r.
Holy and just, in all its ways, Is providence divine; In all its works, immortal rays Of pow'r and mercy shine.
The praise of GOD, delightful theme! Shall fill our heart and tongue; Let all creation bless his name, In one eternal song.
CONSOLATORY RFFLECTIONS ON PROVIDENCE.
'Tis wisdom, mercy, love divine, Which mingle blessings with our cares : And shall our thankless hearts repine That we obtain not all our prayers?
From diffidence our sorrows flow: Short-sighted mortals, weak and blind, Bend down their eyes to earth and woe, And doubt if providence be kind.
Should heav'n with ev'ry wish comply, Say, would the grant relieve the care? Perhaps the good for which we sigh, Might change its name, and prove a snare.
Were once our vain desires subdu'd, The will resign'd, the heart at rest; In ev'ry scene we should conclude, The will of heav'n is right, is best.
THE PERFECTIONS AND PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
HIGH in the heav'ns, eternal GOD! Thy goodness in full glory shines; Thy truth shall break through ev'ry cloud, Which veils and darkens thy designs.
For ever firm thy justice stands, As mountains their foundations keep; Wise are the wonders of thy hands, Thy judgments are a mighty deep.
Thy providence is kind and large; Both man and beast thy bounty share; The whole creation is thy charge; The good are thy peculiar care.
O GOD! how excellent thy love, Whence all our hope and comfort springs; The sons of Adam, in distress,
Fly to the shadow of thy wings.
GREAT GOD! thy glories shall employ Our holy love, our humble joy; Our lips, in grateful songs, shall bring Their tribute to th' eternal king.
The earth and stars, and worlds unknown, Depend on thy eternal throne; All nature rests upon thy word, And men and angels own thee, LORD.
Who shall pretend to teach thee skill, Or guide the counsels of thy will? Thy mercy ages past have known, And ages long to come shall own.
Thou, GOD of heav'n! dost condescend To be our father and our friend: We love thy name; we love thy word: Join all our pow'rs to praise thee, LORD.
O GOD! Our king! thy various praise Shall fill the remnant of our days; Thy love employ our humble tongue, Till death and glory raise the song.
The wings of ev'ry hour shall bear Some thankful tribute to thine ear; And ev'ry setting sun shall see New works of duty done for thee.
Thy truth and justice we'll proclaim; Thy bounty flows, an endless stream; Thy mercy swift, thine anger slow, But dreadful to the stubborn foe.
Let ev'ry age and nation raise A long succession of thy praise; And unborn ages make our song The joy and labour of their tongue.
But who can speak thy won'drous deeds? Thy greatness all our thoughts exceeds ! Vast and unsearchable thy ways, Vast and immortal be thy praise.
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