3 How have we chased them through the field,
And trod them to the ground;
While Thy salvation was our shield,
And they no shelter found!

4 In vain to idol saints they cry,
And perish in their blood:
Where is a rock so great, so high,
So powerful as our God?

5 The Rock of Israel ever lives,
His name be ever blessed;
'Tis His own arm the victory gives,
He gives His people rest.

18-PART VI.

10s.

DWIGHT.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

1 TO bless the Lord, our God, in strains divine,
With thankful hearts, and raptured voices join;
To us what wonders His right hand hath shown!
Mercies, His chosen tribes have scarcely known!
Like David blessed, begin th' enraptured song;
Let praise and joy awaken every tongue.

2 When, fired to rage, against our nations rose
Chiefs of proud name, and bands of haughty foes;
He trained our hosts to fight, with arms arrayed,
With health invigoured, and with bounty fed;
Gave us His chosen chief our sons to guide;
Heard every prayer, and every want supplied.
3 He gave their armies captive to our hands,
Or sent them frustrate to their native lands;
Burst the dark snare, disclosed the miry pit,

And led to broad, safe grounds, our sliding feet; Bounteous, for us, extended regions won, The fairest empire spread beneath the sun. 4 When, dark and threatening, civil broils arose, Each hope grew dim, and friends were changed to foes;

God was our stay, our help, our heavenly shield; His grace preserved us, and His arm upheld; Saved us from tumults dire, and deep distress; Enlarged our blessings, and confirmed our peace. 5 No more against our land shall strangers rise, But fall, and fade, beneath avenging skies: Pleased, the fierce heathen yield to happier sway; The groping savage hail the gospel day;

Low sink the proud, the sons of blood be slain; Nor injured Zion lift her cries in vain.

6 But, O thou Power beloved! our shores around Be every virtue, every blessing found.

Here bid Thy seasons crown the fruitful plain; Here bid fair peace extend her blissful reign; Let laws, let justice, hold perpetual sway, The soul unfettered, and the conscience free. 7 With clearest splendour, here, let knowledge

shine:

Here every glory beam from truth divine;
To Jesus' call the soul obsequious bend;
Grace from Thy Spirit in rich showers descend;
Nations each day ascend the bright abode,
And boundless praise unceasing rise to God.

19-PART I.

S. M.

WATTS.

THE BOOK OF NATURE AND SCRIPTURE.

1 BEHOLD! the lofty sky
Declares its maker God,

And all His starry works on high
Proclaim His power abroad.

2 The darkness and the light
Still keep their course the same;
While night to day, and day to night,
Divinely teach His name.

3 In every different land

Their general voice is known:
They show the wonders of His hand,
And orders of His throne.

4 Ye western lands, rejoice,
Here He reveals His word:
We are not left to nature's voice
To bid us know the Lord.

5 His statutes and commands
Are set before our eyes;
He puts His gospel in our hands,
Where our salvation lies.

6 His laws are just and pure,
His truth without deceit;
His promises for ever sure,
And His rewards are great.

7 Not honey to the taste
Affords so much delight;

Nor gold that has the furnace past
So much allures the sight

8 While of Thy works I sing,
Thy glory to proclaim:
Accept the praise, my God, my King,
In my Redeemer's name.

19-PART II.

S. M.

WATTS.

THE WORD OF GOD MOST EXCELLENT.

1 BEHOLD, the morning sun
Begins his glorious way;

His beams through all the nations run,
And life and light convey.

2 But where the gospel comes,
It spreads diviner light;

It calls dead sinners from their tombs,
And gives the blind their sight.

3 How perfect is Thy word!
And all Thy judgments just;
For ever sure Thy promise, Lord;
And men securely trust.

4 My gracious God, how plain
Are Thy directions given!
Oh! may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heaven!

5 I hear Thy word with love,
And I would fain obey:
Send Thy good Spirit from above,
To guide me lest I stray.

6 Oh! who can ever find
The errors of his ways!

Yet with a bold presumptuous mind,
I would not dare transgress.

7 Warn me of every sin;
Forgive my secret faults:

And cleanse this guilty soul of mine,
Whose crimes exceed my thoughts.

8 While with my heart and tongue
I spread thy praise abroad;
Accept the worship and the song,
My Saviour and my God.

19-PART III.

L. M.

NATURE AND SCRIPTURE COMPARED.

WATTS.

1 THE heavens declare Thy glory, Lord,
In every star Thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold Thy word,
We read Thy name in fairer lines.

2 The rolling sun, the changing light,

And nights and days Thy power confess; But the blessed volume Thou hast writ, Reveals Thy justice and Thy grace.

3 Sun, moon, and stars convey Thy praise Round the whole earth, and never stand; So when Thy truth began its race,

It touched and glanced on every land.

4 Nor shall Thy spreading gospel rest,
Till through the world Thy truth has run;
Till Christ has all the nations blessed,
That see the light or feel the sun.

5 Great Sun of Righteousness, arise;
Bless the dark world with heavenly light;
Thy gospel makes the simple wise,
Thy laws are pure, Thy judgments right.