Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 18

The Majesty of G.o.d.

1 The Lord Jehovah reigns, And royal state maintains, His head with awful glories crowned, Arrayed in robes of light, Begirt with sovereign might, And rays of majesty around.

2 Upheld by thy commands, The world securely stands, And skies and stars obey thy word; Thy throne was fixed on high Ere stars adorned the sky; Eternal is thy kingdom, Lord.

3 Thy promises are true; Thy grace is ever new; There fixed, thy church shall ne'er remove; Thy saints, with holy fear, Shall in thy courts appear, And sing thine everlasting love.

114. 8 & 7s. M. Bowring.

G.o.d is Love.

1 G.o.d is love; his mercy brightens All the path in which we rove; Bliss he wakes, and woe he lightens; G.o.d is wisdom, G.o.d is love.

2 Chance and change are busy ever; Man decays, and ages move; But his mercy waneth never; G.o.d is wisdom, G.o.d is love.

3 E'en the hour that darkest seemeth Will his changeless goodness prove; From the gloom his brightness streameth, G.o.d is wisdom, G.o.d is love.

4 He with earthly cares entwineth Hope and comfort from above: Everywhere his glory s.h.i.+neth; G.o.d is wisdom, G.o.d is love.

115. L. M. Fergus.

G.o.d the Creator.

1 The Spirit moved upon the waves That darkly rolled, a sh.o.r.eless sea; He spake the word, and light burst forth, A glorious, bright immensity.

2 At his command, the mountains heaved Their rocky pinnacles on high, Island and continent displayed Their desert grandeur to the sky.

3 The voice of G.o.d was heard again, And lovely flowers and graceful trees Appeared on every vale and plain, And perfumes floated on the breeze.

4 The word went forth, and vast and high The heavenly orbs gave out their light, O'er all the earth and sea and sky; The rulers of the day and night.

116. L. M. 6l. Montgomery's Coll.

Omnipresence of G.o.d.

1 Above, below, where'er I gaze, Thy guiding finger, Lord, I view, Traced in the midnight planets' blaze, Or glist'ning in the morning dew: Whate'er is beautiful or fair, Is but thine own reflection there.

2 And when the radiant orb of light Hath tipped the mountain tops with gold Smote with the blaze, my weary sight Shrinks from the wonders I behold; That ray of glory, bright and fair, Is but thy living shadow there.

3 Thine is the silent noon of night, The twilight eve, the dewy morn; Whate'er is beautiful and bright, Thy hands have fas.h.i.+oned to adorn.

Thy glory walks in every sphere, And all things whisper, "G.o.d is here."

117. C. M. Watts.

The Perfections of G.o.d.

1 How shall I praise th' eternal G.o.d, That infinite Unknown?

Who can ascend his high abode, Or venture near his throne?

2 Those watchful eyes that never sleep, Survey the world around: His wisdom is a boundless deep, Where all our thoughts are drowned.

3 Speak we of strength, his arm is strong, To save or to destroy: To him eternal years belong, And never-ending joy.

4 He knows no shadow of a change, Nor alters his decrees; Firm as a rock his truth remains, To guard his promises.

118. C. M. Drennan.

"G.o.d is a Spirit."

1 The heaven of heavens cannot contain The universal Lord; Yet he in humble hearts will deign To dwell and be adored.

2 Where'er ascends the sacrifice Of fervent praise and prayer, Or on the earth, or in the skies, The G.o.d of heaven is there.

3 His presence is diffused abroad Through realms, through worlds unknown; Who seek the mercies of our G.o.d Are ever near his throne.

119. C. M. Watts.

Power, Wisdom and Goodness of G.o.d.

1 I sing the mighty power of G.o.d, That made the mountains rise, That spread the flowing seas abroad, And built the lofty skies.

2 I sing the wisdom that ordained The sun to rule the day; The moon s.h.i.+nes full at his command, And all the stars obey.

3 I sing the goodness of the Lord, That filled the earth with food; He formed the creatures with his word, And then p.r.o.nounced them good.