Book JI.] HYMNS. I. II. III. ¡Y. BOOK II. Composed on Divine Subjects. HYMN I. [L. M.] A song in praise to God from Great- Britain. 1 NATURE with all her pow'rs shall sinj God the Creator and the King: Nor air, nor earth, nor skies, nor seas, Deny the tribute of their praise. s ¡Begin to make his glories known, Ye seraphs, that sit near his throne Tube your harps high, and spread the sound To the creation's utmost bound.] 3 [All mortal thingsof meaner frame. Exert your force, and own his name ; Whilst with our souls and with our voice, We sing his honours and our joys.] 4 l To him be sacred all we have, From the young cradle to the grave: Our lips shall his loud wonders tell, And ev'ry word a miracle.] 5 [This northern isle, our native land, Lies safe in the Almighty's hand ; , Our foes of vlct'ry dream in vain, And wear the captivating chain. 6 He builds and guar:lstheBritish throne, And makes it gracious, like his own : Makes our successive princes kind, And gives our dangers to the wind.] t Raise monumental praises high, To him that thunders thro' the sky, And with an awful nod or frown Shakes an aspiring tyrant down. * [Pillars of lasting brass proclaim The triumphs of th' eternal name: While trembling nations read from far The honours of the God of war.] O Thus let our flaming zeal employ Our loftiestthoughts andloudest songs: Britain, pronounce with warmest joy, Hosanna from ten thousand tongues. 10 [Yet, mighty God, our feeble frame Attempts in vain to reach thy name The strongest notes that angels raise, Faint in the worship and.the praise.] HYMN II. [C. M.] The death of a sinner. - 1 MY thoughts on awful subjects roll, Damnation and the dead.; What horrors seize the guilty soul Upon a dying bed 4 Ling'ring about these mortal shores, She makes a long delay Till like a flood with rapid force Death sweeps the wretch away. VOL. IX. 104 s Then swift and dreadful she descends Down to the fi'ry coast, Amongst abominable fiends; Herself a £righted ghost. 4 There endless crowds of sinners lie, And darkness makes their chains : Tortur'd with keen despair they cry, Yet wait for fiercer pains. 5 Not all their anguish and their blood For their old guilt atones, Nor the compassion of a God Shall hearken to their groans. 6 Amazing grace, that kept my breath, Nor bid my soul remove, Till I had learn'dmy Saviour's death, And well insur'd his love ! HYMN III. [C. M.] The death and burial of a saint. 1 WHY do we mourn departing friends Or shake at death's alarms ? 'Tis but the voice that Jesus sends To call them to his arms. 2 Are we not tending upward too As fast as time can move ? Norwould wewish the hours more slow, To keep us from our love. 3 Why should we tremble to convey Their bodies to the tomb ? There the dear flesh of Jesus lay, And left a long perfume. 4 The graves of all his saints he bless'd, And soften'd ev'ry bed: Where shouldthe dying members rest, But with the dying Head? 5 Thence he arose, ascending high,, And shew'd our feet the way ; Up to the Lord our flesh shall fly, At the great rising -day. 6 Then let the last loud trumpet sound, Andbid our kindred rise : Awake ye nations under ground; Ye saints, ascend the skies. HYMN IV. [L. M.] Salvation in the cross. 1 HERE at thy cross, my dying God, I lay my soul beneath thy love, Beneath the droppings of thy blood, Jesus ! nor shall it e'er remove. 2 Not all that tyrants think or say, With rage -and lightning in their eyes, Nor hell shall fright my heart away, Should hell with all its legions rise. I;.
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