O GOD, we praise thee, and confess
That thou the only Lord,
And everlasting Father art,
By all the earth adored.
To thee all angels cry aloud;
To thee the powers on high,
Both cherubim and seraphim,
Continually do cry:
O holy, holy, holy Lord,
Whom heavenly hosts obey; The world is with the glory filled Of thy majestic sway.
The apostles' glorious company,
And prophets crowned with light,
With all the martyrs' noble host,
Thy constant praise recite.
The holy church throughout the world,
O Lord, confesses thee,
That thou eternal Father art,
Of boundless majesty.
We magnify thee day by day,
And ever worship thee;
Vouchsafe to keep us, Lord, this day, From sin and danger free.
Thy temple here, of land and sea,
This rock-ribbed shrine, shall altar be,
Thy spirit's grace shall aid each soul
To find in thee our aim and goal.
Dear souls rejoiced in glad years past
To see thee here, thou First and Last;
Heaven's blessing came and brought thy
And gave from sin their hearts release.
Make, Lord, our lives all blessed be,
Lift thou our hearts to dwell in thee;
Thy spirit ever be our store,
Heaven's bounty gladden more and more.
Now, therefore, our God, we thank thee, and
praise thy glorious name."
74.
WE thank thee, Lord, for this fair earth,
The glittering sky, the silver sea,
For all their beauty, all their worth,
Their light and glory, come from thee.
Yet teach us still how far more fair,
More glorious, Father, in thy sight,
Is one pure deed, one holy prayer,
One heart that holds thy Spirit's might.
So while we gaze, with thoughtful eye,
On all the gifts thy love has given,
Help us in thee to live and die,
By thee to rise from earth to heaven.
George E. L Cotton.
"Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice." FATHER! beneath thy sheltering wing In sweet security we rest,
And fear no evil earth can bring,
In life, in death, supremely blest.
For life is good whose tidal flow
The motions of thy will obeys;
And death is good, that makes us know
The Life divine, that all things sways.
And good it is to bear the cross,
And so thy perfect peace to win;
And nought is ill, nor brings us loss,
Nor works us harm, save only sin.
Redeemed from this, we ask no more,
But trust the love that saves to guide:
The grace that yields so rich a store
Will grant us all we need beside.
"O all ye works of the Lord, praise ye the Lord!"
LET the whole creation cry,
Glory to the Lord on high!
Heaven and earth, awake and sing,
"God is good, and therefore King."
Praise him, all ye host above,
Ever bright and fair in love!
Sun and moon, uplift your voice;
Night and stars, in God rejoice.
Chant his honor, ocean fair!
Earth, soft rushing through the air;
Sunshine, darkness, cloud and storm,
Rain and snow, his praise perform.
Let the blossoms of the earth
Join the universal mirth;
Birds, with morn and dew elate,
Sing with joy at heaven's gate.
Warriors fighting for the Lord,
Prophets burning with his word,
Men and women, young and old,
Raise the anthem manifold;
And let children's happy hearts
In this worship bear their parts:
Holy, Holy, Holy One,
Glory be to God alone!
SOVEREIGN and transforming Grace! We invoke thy quickening power; Reign, the spirit of this place;
Bless the purpose of this hour. Holy and creative Light!
We invoke thy kindling ray; Dawn upon our spirit's night, Turn our darkness into day. Work in all; in all renew
Day by day the life divine;
All our wills to thee subdue,
All our hearts to thee incline!
Frederic Henry Hedge.
"As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so
panteth my soul after thee, O God."
THIRSTING for a living spring,
Seeking for a higher home; Resting where our souls must cling, Trusting, hoping, Lord, we come. Glorious hopes our spirits fill,
When we feel that thou art near; Father! then our fears are still,
Then the soul's bright end is clear.
Make us beautiful within,
By thy spirit's holy light;
Guard us when our faith burns dim,
Father of all love and might!
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