PSALMS AND HYMNS OF PRAISE.

In holy contemplation,

We sweetly then pursue The theme of God's salvation, And find it ever new; Set free from present sorrow, We cheerfully can say.­Even let the unknown to morrow Bring with it what it may: It can bring with it nothing, But He will bear us through: Who gives the lilies clothing.

Will clothe His people too: Beneath the spreading heavens No creature but is fed; And He, who feeds the ravens, Will give His children bread. And though the fields should languish, Nor flocks nor herds be there, In years of drought and anguish When homes are bleak and bare, Yet, God the same abiding,

His praise shall tune my voice; For while in Him confiding, I cannot but rejoice. Amen. 584 THE God of Abra'am praise, Who reigns enthroned above; Ancient of everlasting days, And God of love: Jehovah, Great I AM,

By earth and heaven confess'd:­

I bow and bless the sacred name

For ever bless'd.

The God of Abra'am praise,

At whose supreme command

From earth I rise, and seek the joys

At His right hand:

1 all on earth forsake,

Its wisdom, fame, and power: And Him my only portion make, My shield and tower.

1: He by Himself hath sworn; I on His oath depend;

I shall, on eagle's wings upborne, To heaven ascend;

I shall behold His face,

I shall His power adore;

And sing the wonders of His grace

For evermore.

Though nature's strength decay, And earth and hell withstand, To Canaan s bounds I urge my way, At His command;

The watery deep I pass, With Jesus in my view; And through the howling wilderness My way pursue.

The God, who reigns on high, The great archangels sing. And" Holy, Holy, Holy cry, Almighty King;

Who was and is the same, And evermore shall be Jehovah, Father. Great I AM, A We worship Thee.

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The whole triumphant host Give thanks to God on high: Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, They ever cry..

Hail, Abra am's God, and mine, I join the heavenly lays; All might and majesty are Thine, And endless praise. Amen.

585 THE strain upraise of joy and

Alleluia!

praise, To the glory of their King Shall the ransom'd people sing,

Alleluia!

And the choirs that dwell on high Shall re- echo through the sky, Alleluia!

They through the fields of Paradise

that roam,

The blessed ones, repeat through that bright home, Alleluia!

glittering on their

The planets

heavenly way, The shining constellations, join and Alleluia!

say,

Ye clouds that onward sweep. Ye winds on pinions light, Ye thunders, echoing loud and deep, Ye lightnings, wildly bright. In sweet consent unite your Alleluia! Ye floods and ocean billows. Ye storms and winter snow, Ye days of cloudless beauty, Hoar frost and summer glow; Ye groves that wave in spring, And glorious forests, sing, Alleluia! First let the birds, with painted plumage gay,

Exalt their great Creator's praise, and Allelaia!

say,

Then let the beasts of earth, with varying strain,

Join in creation's hymn, and cry again, Alleluia!

Here let the mountains thunder forth sonorous, Alleluia!

There let the valleys sing in gentler chorus,

Alleluia!

Thou jubilant abyss of ocean, cry,

Alleluia!

Ye tracts of earth and continents, reply,

Alleluia!

To God, who all creation made, The frequent hymn be duly paid;

Alleluia!

This is the strain, the eternal strain, the Lord of all things loves: Alleluia!

This is the song, the heavenly song, that Christ Himself approves: Alleluia! Wherefore we sing, both heart and voice awaking, Alleluia!