Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 140

2 Children of lisping tongue, Those whose full hearts are young Lift up the song!

Manhood and h.o.a.ry age, Let naught your joy a.s.suage, In the high theme engage, Praises prolong!

3 G.o.d of our fathers' land!

Long may our temples stand Sacred to thee!

Let thy bright light divine On all the people s.h.i.+ne, Make us forever thine, From sin set free!

848. L. P. M. Kippis.

National Praise and Prayer.

1 With grateful hearts with joyful tongues, To G.o.d we raise united songs; His power and mercy we proclaim: Through every age, O, may we own Jehovah here has fixed his throne, And triumph in his mighty name.

2 Long as the moon her course shall run, Or men behold the circling sun, Lord, in our land support thy reign; Crown her just counsels with success, With truth and peace her borders bless, And all thy sacred rights maintain.

849. 6s. & 4s. M. Anonymous.

Prayer for our Country.

1 G.o.d bless our native land, Firm may she ever stand Through storm and night; When the wild tempests rave, Ruler of winds and wave, Do thou our country save, By thy great might.

2 For her our prayer shall rise To G.o.d above the skies; On him we wait; Thou who hast heard each sigh, Watching each weeping eye, Be thou forever nigh;-- G.o.d save the state.

850. 7s. & 6s. M. Christian Ballads.

Our Country.

Now pray we for our country, Pray that it long may be The holy and the happy, And the gloriously free!

Who blesseth her is blessed!

So peace be in her walls; And joy in all her villages, Her cottages and halls.

THE SEASONS, ANNUAL OCCASIONS, ETC.

851. L. M. Heginbotham.

The G.o.d of the Seasons.

1 Great G.o.d! let all our tuneful powers Awake and sing thy mighty name; Thy hand rolls on our circling hours, The hand from which our being came.

2 Seasons and moons revolving round In beauteous order speak thy praise; And years with smiling mercy crowned, To thee successive honors raise.

3 Each changing season on our souls Its sweetest, kindest influence sheds; And every period, as it rolls, Showers countless blessings on our heads.

4 Our lives, our health, our friends, we owe All to thy vast unbounded love; Ten thousand precious gifts below, And hope of n.o.bler joys above.

852. L. M. Enfield's Sel.

The Goodness of G.o.d in the Seasons.

1 Great G.o.d! 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 s.h.i.+ne confessed!

4 Indulgent G.o.d! from every part, Thy plenteous blessings largely flow; We see,--we taste;--let every heart With grateful love and duty glow.

853. C. M. Watts.

Seasons.

1 With songs and honors sounding loud, Address the Lord on high; O'er all the heavens he spreads his cloud, And waters veil the sky.

2 He sends his showers of blessings down, To cheer the plains below; He makes the gra.s.s the mountains crown, And corn in valleys grow.

3 His steady councils change the face Of each declining year; He bids the sun cut short his race, And wintry days appear.

4 On us his providence has shone, With gentle, smiling rays; O, may our lips and lives make known His goodness and his praise.