Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 144

6 "Then, like the morning ray, Shall spring your health and light; Before you, righteousness shall s.h.i.+ne, Behind, my glory bright!"

872. L. M. Dyer.

Public Humiliation.

1 Great Maker of unnumbered worlds, And whom unnumbered worlds adore,-- Whose goodness all thy creatures share, While nature trembles at thy power,--

2 Thine is the hand that moves the spheres, That wakes the wind, and lifts the sea; And man, who moves the lord of earth, Acts but the part a.s.signed by thee.

3 While suppliant crowds implore thine aid, To thee we raise the humble cry; Thine altar is the contrite heart, Thine incense the repentant sigh.

4 O may our land, in this her hour, Confess thy hand, and bless the rod, By penitence make thee her friend, And find in thee a guardian G.o.d.

873. C. M. Rippon's Coll.

Public Supplication.

1 When Abrah'm, full of sacred awe, Before Jehovah stood, And, with an humble, fervent prayer, For guilty Sodom sued,--

2 With what success, what wondrous grace, Was his pet.i.tion crowned!

The Lord would spare, if in this place Ten righteous men were found.

3 And could a single pious soul So rich a boon obtain?

Great G.o.d, and shall a nation cry, And plead with thee in vain?

4 Are not the righteous dear to thee Now, as in ancient times?

Or does this sinful land exceed Gomorrah in her crimes?

5 Still we are thine; we bear thy name; Here yet is thine abode: Long has thy presence blessed our land: Forsake us not, O G.o.d.

874. C. M. Rippon's Coll.

Judgments for National Sins Deprecated.

1 Almighty Lord, before thy throne Thy mourning people bend; 'Tis on thy pardoning grace alone Our dying hopes depend.

2 Dark judgments, from thy heavy hand, Thy dreadful power display; Yet mercy spares our guilty land, And still we live to pray.

3 How changed, alas! are truths divine, For error, guilt, and shame!

What impious numbers, bold in sin, Disgrace the Christian name!

4 O, turn us, turn us, mighty Lord; Convert us by thy grace; Then shall our hearts obey thy word, And see again thy face.

5 Then, should oppressing foes invade, We will not yield to fear, Secure of all-sufficient aid, When thou, O G.o.d, art near.

875. L. M. Aikin.

In time of War.

1 While sounds of war are heard around, And death and ruin strow the ground, To thee we look, on thee we call, The Parent and the Lord of all.

2 Thou, who hast stamped on human kind The image of a heaven-born mind, And in a Father's wide embrace Hast cherished all the kindred race,--

3 Great G.o.d, whose powerful hand can bind The raging waves, the furious wind, O, bid the human tempest cease, And hush the maddening world to peace.

4 With reverence may each hostile land Hear and obey that high command, Thy Son's blest errand from above,-- "My creatures, live in mutual love!"

876. 6s. & 4s. M. Montgomery.

Thanksgiving Hymn.

1 The G.o.d of harvest praise; In loud thanksgivings raise Hand, heart, and voice; The valleys smile and sing, Forests and mountains ring, The plains their tribute bring, The streams rejoice.

2 Yea, bless his holy name, And purest thanks proclaim Through all the earth; To glory in your lot Is duty,--but be not G.o.d's benefits forgot, Amidst your mirth.

3 The G.o.d of harvest praise; Hands, hearts, and voices raise, With sweet accord; From field to garner throng, Bearing your sheaves along, And in your harvest song Bless ye the Lord.

877. C. M. Christian Psalmist.

The Same.

1 Fountain of mercy, G.o.d of love, How rich thy bounties are!

The rolling seasons, as they move, Proclaim thy constant care.

2 When in the bosom of the earth The sower hid the grain, Thy goodness marked its secret birth, And sent the early rain.