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HYMNS
WRITTEN
FOR THE USE
OF
HEBREW CONGREGATIONS,
"1 will sing unto the Lord while I live : I will sing praise unto my God while J exist." PSALM civ., v. 33.
FOURTH EDITION, REVISED AND CORRECTED.
CHARLESTON,' S. C. :
PUBLISHED BY THE
CONGREGATION BETH ELOHIM.
A. M. 5627.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by the Hebrew Congregation
BETH ELOHIM,
In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States, for the District of fouth Carolina.
^, . &. C. ] EDWARD PERRV, 'PRINTER, 149 MEETING STREET.— 1875.
INDEX OF SUBJECTS.
Hymns I. CONSECRATION HYMNS 1—3
II. ATTRIBUTES OF GOD..
1. UNITY or GOD 4 — 5
2. IMMUTABILITY or GOD 6
3. OMNIPOTENCE 7 — 8
4. OMNISCIENCE 9-11
5. OMNIPRESENCE 12-13
6. DIVINE LOVE 14
7. DIVINE MEECY 15-19
8. DIVINE PROVIDENCE 20-22
9. DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN RELATION TO
ISRAEL 23-26
III. THE DIGNITY AND DESTINY OF MAN.
1. MAN'S DIGNITY 27
2. MAN, THE IMAGE OF GOD 28
3. VIRTUE 29-30
4. PIETY 31-38
5. IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL 39-43
6. COMMEMORATION OF THE DEAD 44-45
442410
IV INDEX OF SUBJECTS.
Hymns. JV. RELATION BETWEEN GOD AND MAN.
1. REVELATION...* 46
2. DIVINE LAW.. 47
•
3. RELIGION 48-51
4. DUTIES TOWARDS GOD.
1. Acquisition of the Knowledge of
the Lord 52
2. Obedience to the Will of God 53-5H
3. Faith in God 57-60
4. Hope in God 61-64
5. Love of God 65
6. Gratitude towards God 66-67
7. Submission to the Will of God 68-81
*
5. DUTIES TOWAEDS OURSELVES.
1. Self-knowledge 82
2 Self-examination 83-85
3. Humility 86-89
4. Contentment 90-94
5. For the Sick 95
6. Preparation for Death 96
•
6. DUTIES TOWARDS OTHERS.
1. Truth 97— ^
2. Honesty 99
3. Justice 100
4. Righteousness 101
5. Forbearance 102-105
6. Brotherly Love 106-108
7. Filial Love 109-110
8. Matrimonial Love Ill
9. Charity 112-119
V. MISCELLANEOUS HYMNS.
1. FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE 120
2. PRAYER.. ..121-124
INDEX OF SUBJECTS. V
Hymns.
3. DIVINE WORSHIP 125-127
4. DEVOTION..: *! 128-1-!!'
5. PRAISE AND _ THANKSGIVING 130-141
6. MORNING 142
7. EVENING 143
8. SPRING 144
9. WINTER 145-146
10. PEACE 147-148
11. OUR COUNTRY 149
12. PENITENCE 150-1H3
VI. SABBATH HYMNS 164-177
VII. FESTIVAL HYMNS.
1. NEW YEAR (Roshe Hashanah) 178-181
2. DAY OF ATONEMENT (Yorne Hakip-
pureem) 182-186
3. TABERNACLES (Succoth) 187-191
4. FEAST OF DEDICATION (Hanuccah) 192-194
5. FEAST OF ESTHER (Pureem) 195-196
6. PASSOVER (Pesach) 197-201
7. PENTECOST (Shabungoth) 202-204
VIII. CONFIRMATION HYMNS.. 205-207
^T
APPENDIX.
SCHOOL HYMNS 208-210
HEBREW HYMNS pages 210-212
INDEX OF FIRST LINES.
• Number. Page.
ABOVE all honor and all praise 137 135
Affliction cometh not from dust 73 74
All living souls shall bless Thy name 136 134
Almighty God ! Thy special grace 195 190
Almighty God! we pray to Thee 210 209
Almighty God! whose will alone 11 15
A mournful lament for the dead 41 44
Arise! let the souls of the Hebrews rejoice 194 189
BEFORE the glorious orbs of light 4 7
Begin the holy hymn of praise 129 127
Between the past and future year 178 171
Blest are th' enlight'ners of mankind 50 53
Blest is the bond of wedded love Ill HO
Blest is the man to whom the Lord 35 39
Bounteous Father ! by what course 115 113
By Babel's streams Thy children wept 2 5
CAST me not from Thy presence, Lord 158 154
Comfort ye, 0 Israel ! and lift no more 186 180
Creator of the universe 163 158
INDEX OF FIRST LINES. Vll
Number. 1'a.n'f.
DAUGHTERS of 'Israel! arise 165 160
Deep silence reigned in Isaac's tent 56 58
Descend into thyself, my soul 83 83
Despond not, 0 my heart 76 76
Divine Disposer of events 10 14
Draw nigh, 0 Lord! unto my soul 70 71
EARLY and late my God I seek 98 96
Eternal, almighty, invisible God 133 131
Eternal love is Thine, 0 God 184 178
Exalted theme of human praise 156 151
Extol the King who, throned above 135 133
Exult, rny soul ! in consciousness proud 28. 33
FATHER of mercies ! on this morning 185 178
Father of nations ! Judge divine 149 144
Father! will abstinence, or prayer, or song 99 97
Fear not, fear not, 0 Jeshurun 25 30
Formless and void creation stood 53 56
Frail, feeble, inefficient man 80 80
From my voice shall virtue's praise proceed 157 152
GATHER and worship! the first sta-r of eve... 164 159
Glorified throughout all time 7 11
Glory and praise to the bountiful Sire 138 135
Glory not in a gift so vain 52 54
Glory to God! whose outstretched hand 200 196
God dwells in light 193 188
God of my fathers ! in Thy sight 207 205
God of my fathers! merciful and just 39 43
God of power ! in Thy gift 29 34
God of the earth, the air, the sea 197 192
God of the Sabbath ! to Thy praise 170 163
God of the universe ! unfailing friend 79 79
Vlll INDEX TO FIRST LINES.
Number. Page.
God Supreme ! to Thee I pray 68 70
God ! to my spirit's great delight 205 202
Great Arbiter of human fate 192 186
HALLELUJAH ! praise to Thee 199 195
Hallelujah 201 197
Hallow my Sabbaths ! Will Israel respond 174 167
Happy he whom nature mouldeth 206 204
Have mercy on Thy servant, Lord 151 147
Healer of the wounded heart 74 75
Hearken not, man! to the voice of self-love.... 86 86
Hear my voice and grant my pray'r 95 94
Here at this temple's holy shrine 127 125
He spoke; and through the gloom profound 167 161
Holy and everlasting One 144 141
House of Judah, bless the Lord 139 136
How beautiful it is to see 106 104
How cold that man ! to faith how dead 20 24
How desolate thy fields and vales 187 181
How great, how pure is my delight 191 185
How long will man, in pleasure merged 32 37
How oft has man, with " heart of stone" 119 117
How sad the wintry hours seem 146 142
I LIFT mine eyes unto the hills til 63
I saw a palace proud and high 113 111
I tremble not; Thou, Lord, art nigh 13 17
I weep not now as once I wept ." 57 59
I wept when from my eager grasp 71 72
I will extol Thee, 0 my King 19 23
I will still remain with Thee 21 25
If mortal vision may not meet 140 137
In glory, Lord ! dost Thou appear * 85 85
In God, the holy, wise, and just 9 13
INDEX OF FIRST LINES. IX
Number. Page.
In harmony with heaven's peace 171 164
In holiness, eternal Lord 34 38
In perilous probation here 124 122
In the great scales of human life 90 89
Intensely radiant was thy peak. 110 108
Into the tomb of ages past 179 173
Is there within the world's wide bound 148 144
Israel! to holy numbers 3 6
It is the solemn Sabbath-day 166 160
LEADERS of Israel' arise 152 148
Let choral songs of gladness flow 46 49
Let me for present hours borrow 93 92
Let the Lord be ever praised 131 129
Let the standard of truth by Judah be planted 97 95
Let there be love : it is the light 107 105
Let thy heart for ever delight in the Lord 59 61
Let us to prayer ; it is the holy time 202 199
Lift, lift the voice of praise on high 126 124
Lo! lie sleeps and slumbers not 24 28
Look down, 0 God ! with gracious eye 181 174
Lord! let Thy countenance now shine 75 76
Lord! my Redeemer and my Rock 38 42
Lord of the world ! when I behold 183 176
Lord! what is man, that Thou shouldst take... 51 53
Lord! when I hear Thy holy law 47 50
MAN of the world! wilt thou not pause 33 38
Many are the pains and sorrows 77 77
Morn breaks upon Moriah's height 180 173
Mournfully chant ! for our choir accords 160 155
My God, my Father, and my Guide 89 88
My God! my God* to Thee I cling 81 81
My heart is bared to Thee, 0 Lord 182 176
X INDEX OF FIRST LINES.
Number. Page.
NOT lor affliction, gracious God 14 19
Now let the hand of toil suspend 172 165
O'ER all this wide and beauteous earth 17 22
Of all the virtues that we find 102 100
Of heaven's bounties let us sing 190 184
O God ! as we on nature gaze 6 9
0 God ! to-day our joyful song of praise 196 191
0 God ! to Thy paternal grace 58 60
0 God ! within Thy temple walls 27 32
Oh! answer me, my God ! this day 150 146
Oh! blest be he who ne'er forgets the poor 116 114
Oh! ever adverse to the scheme 103 101
Oh! fill our hearts, almighty King 208 208
Oh ! how imperfect, blind, and false 36 40
Oh! how shall man with God contend 54 57
Oh! let us mingle heart and voice 198 193
Oh ! love the Lord with all thy heart 65 67
Oh ! plaintive be the touch and tone 162 157
Oh! sad is nature's aspect now 145 141
Oh! that on morning's dewy wings 69 71
Oh! turn at meek devotion's call 31 36
Oh! what avails my destination 30 35
Oh! whence doth human happiness arise 91 90
Oh! where is he who yesterday 94 93
Oh! worship God! approach His shrine 125 123
Oh! worship not at glory's shrine 154 150
0 King of glory! when we contemplate 16 21
0 man! frail child of finite pow'rs 44 47
On dim futurity with idle aim 92 91
One God! One Lord! One mighty King 5
On Shinar's plain see Babel's tower rise 88
•0 Thou! in whom the power dwells.* 72 73
O thou ! possest of health and bloom 96 94
INDEX OF FIRST LINES. XI
Number. Page.
0 Thou ! who, as the great Unknown 147 143
0 Thou ! who dwell'st in heights supernal 45 48
0 Thou ! whose shrine the sweetest incense bears 112 110
0 uncreated Holy One 132 130
Out of sorrow's depths I cry 87 87
PRAISE the Counselor supreme 188 182
Praise the Lord God, the glorious Supreme 173 166
Praise to the God of nations sing 177 170
Praise ye the Lord ! for it is good 130 128
Pray in the night, when silence and the stars... 118 116
Pray when the morn unveileth 121 119
Prepare and purify my heart ; 175 168
Princes of earth, bend lowly down 141 138
REBUKE me not, nor chasten me 60 62
Refreshed by sleep, that sovereign balm 142 139
Refuge I seek at the shrine of devotion 128 126
Rejoice in God, our mighty Rock 203 200
Remember, man, while thou art young 49 52
Rest for the Lord! The work is done 176 169
Return, 0 Lord ! and let me be 114 112
Rude are the tabernacles now 189 183
SOURCE of Mercy, Truth, and Grace 168 162
Stranger to that pure ambition 159 154
Stretched languidly upon his couch 117 115
THE heavens, Almighty ! Thy glory declare... 37 41
The Lord, a watchful guardian, reigns 143 140
The Lord of heaven reigns 8 12
The prophet to the people said 100 98
The sun shines on with glorious light 23 28
Though faith's discordant worshipers may rear 123 121
Though I from kindred meet but scorn 62 64
Xll INDEX OF FIRST LINES.
Number. Page.
Though man of all the ruin hears 42 45
Though sorrows may be multiplied 55 57
To man, with reason's gift endued 67 69
To sjiiile when we on life's breakers are tossed 48 51
Through the valley of tears as we thoughtfully 43 40
Truly and tenderly should 1 108 106
UNLESS the land where ye abide 26 31
Unto Thine altar, King of kings 155 150
WE bless Thee, 0 Lord ! as the bountiful Source 134 132
We bring not to our holy shrine 204 201
We look to Thee, ineffable King 22 27
Weeping, and loth from all she loved to part... 18 22
What cause hast thou, 0 Israel! for tears 105 103
What painful mem'ries from the buried past.... 153 149
When Faith, too young for a sublimer creed.... 1 3
When grief on the heart has weighed 64 Oft
When I remember, 0 my God 109 108
When T would smile, remembrance brings 78 78
When light broke forth at God's command 15 20
When morning paints the eastern sky 40 44
When night from nature's kingdom flies 122 120
Wherefore Hallelujah sing 12 16
While man explores with curious eye 82 82
W7ho, God of glory ! shall be found 101 99
Who is that angel of the universe 120 118
Why art thou cast down, my soul 63 65
Why, 0 heedless mortal ! dost thou fly 84 84
Why, 0 man ! is not thy soul's desire 104 102
With ardent love and reverence deep 66 68
With grateful hearts of song and praise 209 208
With joyful heart I greet again.. : 169 163
Woe unto Zion 1 she is spoiled 161 15(>
HYMNS.
HYMNS.
1. CONSECBATION HYMNS.*
1 1 When Faith, too young for a sublimer creed, Her simple text from nature's volume taught, She 'wakened Melody, whose shell and reed, Though rude, upon her spirit gently
wrought. But soon from sylvan altars she took wing,
And music followed still the angel's flight ; Savage no more, she touched a golden string, And sung of God, in Revelation's light. Lend, lend our chords, ye seraph-pair,
The soul of Jesse's son, That we may in harmonious prayer, Exalt the Holy One !
* Hymns 1, 2, and 3 were sung at the consecration of the Synagogue of the Congregation Beth Elohini, on Friday, the 26th of Adar, A. M., 5601.
2 Girt in His ligh'trimg robe, God gave the law.
From trembling Sinai, to His eldest-born ; Tablets, that time from memory could not draw, A talisman in Judah's bosom worn. His spirit before thousands past,
To one alone revealed ; And 'mid the thunder's awful blast, Faith's covenant was sealed.
' Him first, Him last," Him let us ever sing, Whose promise yet the Hebrew pilgrim
cheers ; Who shall His wandering people once more
bring
Back to the glory of departed years. Bright pillar of our desert path,
Through shame and scorn adored ; Thy mercy triumph's o'er thy wrath, Creator, King, and Lord !
4 Lost is the pomp, that in the land of palms
Thy regal temple on Moriah graced ; No wreathing incense here Thy shrine embalms, No cherub-plumes are round its altars
placed.
Our censer is the " vital urn," Our ark 's upborne by zeal ; To these. Almighty ! wilt thou turn At Israel's appeal.
5 Now, let joyous Hallelujah's ring,
The fallen casts her ashes far away ; Behold another fane from ruin spring, In brighter and more beautiful array.
Enter in brotherly accord God's holy dwelling-place ;
Chastened in spirit and in word, There supplicate His grace.
G Hear, 0 Supreme ! our humble invocation ; Our country, kindred, and the stranger
bless ! Bless, too, this sanctuary's consecration,
Its hallowed purpose on our hearts impress, Still, still let choral harmony Ascend before Thy throne ; While echoing seraphim reply :
The Lord our God is One ! p. M.
COMFORT YE! COMFORT YE! ISAIAH, CHAP. XL., v. 1.
I By Babel's streams Thy children wept ; Then mute, 0 Israel ! was thy choir ; While as thy weary exiles slept, And on the willow hung thy lyre, A seraph's voice, soft as the dew,
Fell on their dream with "Nahamoo.''
2 No song made glad that mournful voice ;
No ease was for that bruised breast, 'Till He who led thee to rejoice, Sent forth from Zion His behest ! Firm as thy faith in Him was true, Like manna fell the " Nahamoo."
3 The stranger hath usurped the seat
Where, crowned with glory, blaz'd thy
6
" The flow'ry brooks thy hallow'd feet Still wash," 0 Zion ! still remain To mark the ruin and renew The memory of the " Nahamoo."
4 God's mercies shine, a lingering beam,
The pilgrim on his path to light ; From Sinai's brow, from Jordan's stream. From off'rings of the heart contrite, His promises all our hopes imbue With blessings of the " Nahamoo."
j. c. L.
1 1 Israel ! to holy numbers
Tune thy harp's exalting strain ; From its long entranced slumbers * Wake to life its soul again.
2 Give to song its ancient glories,
Let the pealing anthems rise, Proudly to rehearse the stories — Gem'd with glory from the skies.
3 Gently chaunt fair Miriam's praise,
Faith sustained her heart sincere ; 'Twas her first enraptured lays, Sounding timbrils tuned to prayer.
4 Rejoicing went the welcome song,
As to heaven up it rose, Sweet spirits would the sound prolong, Half awak'ning from repose.
5 Almighty God ! before this shrine
Man his Maker worships free ; Oh ! bless it with Thy love divine, Fill it with Thy charity.
6 God is eternal — and alone !
Humbly let us bend the knee, While seraph's guard His sacred throne, Linking immortality. c. M.
II. ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.
1. UNITY OF GOD. (ADONE NGOLAM.)
1 Before the glorious orbs of light
Had shed one blissful ray, In awful power the Lord of might Reigned in eternal day.
2 .At His creative, holy word,
The voice of nature spoke ; Unnumber'd worlds, with one accord, To living joys awoke.
3 Then was proclaimed the mighty King,
In majesty on high ; Then did the holy creatures sing His praises through the sky.
4 All merciful in strength he reigns,
Immutable, Supreme ; His hand the universe sustains. He only can redeem.
5 He is the mighty God alone,
His presence fills the world ; He will- forever reign, the One, Eternal, only Lord !
8
6 Almighty, powerful and just,
Thou art my God, my friend ! My rock, my refuge, and my trust, On Thee my hopes depend.
7 Oh ! be my guardian whilst I sleep,
For thou didst lend me breath ; And when I wake my spirit keep,
And save my soul in death. D. N. c.
1 One God! One Lord! One mighty King ! In unity will Judah sing ; Transmitting e'er from sire to son The truth that God is only One.
2 Thee, Sov'reign of the universe, Through ages, 'mid all sects diverse, The Hebrew child is taught to praise, To lisp Thy name, and learn Thy ways.
3 To Thee alone, when life recedes, The dying Israelite still pleads ; In One Redeemer, God, and guide His fleeting spirit doth confide.
4 Centre and Source of truth sublime] The sun is but a lamp of time,
A transient spark by mercy fed, That man might up to Thee be led.
5 Thy law is that eternal Light,
That dawning first on Horeb's height, Still deigns on Israel to shine, A proof of grace and love divine.
6 It penetrates the stubborn heart, And purifies its sinful part,
The voice of God, 0 Jndah ! hear, And fix His law for ever there.
2. IMMUTABILITY OF GOD. PSALM xc.
£? 1 0 God ! as we on nature gaze,
We see through all her mighty maze,
The spirit of mutation ; Thou art alone with power endued To triumph o'er vicissitude ; Thou knowest no variation. Stars disappear From heaven's sphere, Yet Thou art there ! Seas shrink to rills,. High rocks to hills ; Such change but nature's law fulfills.
2 Exhaustless Source of countless suns ! Thy voice to earth's unheeding ones
This mandate e'er resoundeth : Alike ye abject and august, Sink, downward sink, to kindred dust, Where death his empire foundeth.
God of the spheres !
A thousand years
One day appears
To Thee, whose hand
The heavens spanned, And worlds on worlds stupendous planned.
3 We are as flowers of the mead, Bearing corruption's fatal seed
Within our heart's recesses ;
10
But, oh ! believe the truth we sing, To soul and blossom conies a spring. That vivifies and blesses.
Each hath its tears,
Each tribute bears
Of sweets or prayers ;
But man, whose mind
G-od's image shrined, Shall place among immortals find.
4 Behold the grass with dew-drops decked Canst thou in its green spires detect
Aught that decay portendeth ? Yet look, at eve, on each young blade That in the beams of morning played, Cut down — with dust it blendeth.
Type of man's fate !
With youth elate
His mortal date
Remote appears :
'Till waning years Wither the verdure life first bears.
5 Three-score — how small a part is this, Of ages cast in that abyss
Where time his victims hideth ; That tomb of many yesterdays, From which a voice proceeds and says To those whom reason guideth :
From this our grave,
Ye fair and brave,
Your morroivs save
Lest by neglect
These two are wrecked, And buried 'neath oblivion's wave.
11
6 Then count the moments as they pass, Shining or dark, from time's sand-glass,
Ere they depart for ever ; From each some blessed thought extract, To each attach some godly act, Or virtuous endeavor.
Then shall no change
Your peace derange,
Your souls estrange
From that great guide
Who rules the tide, , That past from future doth divide.
7 Immutability is Thine, Creator, King, and Lord divine,
In whom perfection dwelleth ! Oh ! bring us nearer to Thy throne, Let us from angels catch the tone That of thy glory telleth. Oh ! bless the meek Who daily seek Thy praise to speak ; Whose efforts blend, Faith to extend In Thee, man's never-changing Friend !
p. M.
3. OMNIPOTENCE.
1 1 Glorified throughout all time,
Be the name of God supreme ! Who in heaven reigned sublime, Ere creation felt His beam.
2 He the world's foundation laid By His strength of will alone ;
12
Suns and stars around him played, Catching splendor from His throne.
3 Nature, .at His bidding, brought
Atoms into elements ; Works of beauty then were wrought, Worthy of Omnipotence.
4 Mountains towered high and vast,
Seas from viewless caverns gushed, Infant winds serenely passed, Flowers into being blushed.
5 Tenants of the air and deep,
Animals that tread the ground, Insect tribes that o'er it creep, Were to life and order bound.
6 Man, at last, God's spirit felt
Glowing warmly in his soul ; Earth before a sov'reign knelt, And acknowledged his control.
7 With this spark of light divine,
Shining o'er the breast within, Mortal, on ! what shame is thine.
When thou fallest into sin. p. M.
O 1 The Lord of heaven reigns,
Eternal and sublime ; All limit he disdains
Of power, space, or time.
2 Though ages take their flight, No change in Him it makes, Whose raiment is the light,
Whose voice in thunder speaks.
13
3 Stars with His essence fraught,
In harmony unite, To praise the Hand that wrought The orbs of day and night.
4 As ocean ebbs and flows,
Swayed by its viewless guide, In tempest or repose, God still is glorified.
5 0 Lord ! let me not fail
In trials of the soul ; Let perfect faith prevail, And pious self-control.
6 Desert not Thy frail charge,
But with a father's care My heart and mind enlarge,
To bear and to forbear. p. M.
4. OMNISCIENCE.
Q 1 In God, the holy, wise, and just, From childhood's tender years, Have I reposed with perfect trust My worldly hopes and fears.
2 From every page that time has turned,
Since that bright season fled, Some useful lesson have I learned, Some striking moral read.
3 The prize ambition keenly sought,
A worthless bauble proved ; The web of gold by av'rice wrought, A mighty Hand removed.
14
4 No self-exalting scheme can man,
Unknown to God, project ; No dark device the sland'rer plan, Which He will not detect.
5 In vain would evil-doers hope
His scrutiny to fly ; Nought passes beneath heaven's cope, Unnoticed by His eye.
6 Oh ! should my term of life exceed
Frail man's allotted days, In age to Mercy would I plead
For strength my God to praise. p. M.
4 A 1 Divine Disposer of events !
To whom all praise belongs ; Each attribute of Thine presents A theme for countless songs.
2 Though mortal years were multiplied
A thousand thousand fold ; Yet time would scarcely be supplied, Thy powers to unfold.
3 How shall a feeble, finite mind
Of Thine omniscience sing? Wisdom for this no words can find, And melody no string.
4 In timid tones if angels speak
Of Thee, all-knowing God ! HowT then shall man, minute and weak, Thy excellencies laud ?
5 All heights and depths in nature's bound
Are visible to Thee,
11
15
The lofty heart, the mind profound, The mountain and the sea.
6 No eye but Thine, eternal King !
Can penetrate the grave ; No hand but Thine from thence can bring The soul Thy grace will save.
7 Oh ! let us then in virtue's scale
Strive ever to ascend, And find, beyond this tearful vale, An everlasting Friend. p. M.
GENESIS, CHAP, xvi., v. 13.
1 Almighty God ! whose will alone
Sufficed the world to fabricate ; Whose comprehensive glance is thrown
O'er every empire, realm and state : How from Thy ever-searching eye,
Can man the heart's dominion hide ? Where passions among virtues lie,
As reptiles among flowers glide.
2 Father of mercies ! aid my soul
Its failings to eradicate ; Let truth its every thought control,
Its every feeling elevate. Fearless before Thee let me stand,
0 Lord ! in conscious rectitude ; And feel, when human deeds are scanned,
That mine with favor shall be viewed.
p. M.
16
5. OMNIPRESENCE.
1 Wherefore Hallelujah sing,
0 thou who knowest not Where an omnipresent King
May by thy soul be sought? Canst thou fix the point or place
That His spirit holdeth ? Earth and heaven, time and space,
In His grasp He foldeth.
2 Dust-born atom ! look above,
Where lustrous worlds are shrined Ask, if all-pervading Love,
To these His light confined ? Let proud ocean's voice attest,
(Though fathomless to man,) If ubiquity may rest
Within its mighty span.
3 Ask of the blast that rendeth
The forest's sylvan robe, Whether it comprehendeth
The Kuler of the globe ? Turn from living elements
To those by death dissolved ; Ever-present Providence !
Art Thou in these involved ?
4 All repeat as they respond :
"What can the boundless hold? ' Answered from the world beyond :
" Naught of a finite mould ! " Yet by whirlwinds, stars and seas,
The Lord is magnified ; Shall not human praise then please
Our omnipresent Guide ?
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5 Oh ! then let no emotion
By which the heart is swayed, Prevent that deep devotion,
That should to G-od be paid. Social life and solitude
Alike shall prompt the prayer, That faith, hope, and gratitude
Before His throne shall bear. p. M.
-i 9 1 I tremble not ! Thou, Lord, art nigh, ^-^ All-knowing and all-seeing !
To Tkee, disconsolate, I fly,
Kind Gkiardian of my being. From infancy to age mature, Thee only did my soul adore.
2 To ev'ry evil that annoys,
To every trial fearful, Thou bringest some light counterpoise,
To make earth's vale less tearful. But, oh ! how few interpret right, Either the blessing or the blight.
3 Sad consciousness have I, alas !
Of sinful meditation ; O'er which Omniscience cannot pass
Without stern reprobation. Yet doubt shall not my faith debase, That sets no limit to Thy grace.
4 Self-kindled, Thine intelligence
The universe enlightens ; Arid darkness, e'en the most intense,
To mid-day splendor brightens. Guilt vainly seeks nocturnal shades, Since naught Thy mighty grasp evades.
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5 A sinner's cry, a seraph's call,
Alternate Thou attendest ; A flower's rise, an empire's fall,
In one survey Thou blendest. All nature 'neath Thy glance expands, But who Thine essence understands ?
•6 " Show me Thy glory ? ' said the seer,
Who Sinai's law attested ; " In graciousness will I appear
Before Thee manifested." Thus did the voice of God proclaim, — Goodness and glory were the same.
7 Invisibly He passeth by
His children every hour, Who from devotion's rock descry
His majesty and power ; But none among the living seen May contemplate His awful mien.
8 Yet through my spirit, oft I see
His countenance all beaming ; When charity, by His decree,
Worth is from want redeeming: And man, most like his Maker, shows When this pure love within him glows,
9 I tremble not my heart to bare
Before Thee, Judge eternal ! Whose hand will dry contrition's tear,
With tenderness paternal. Whose mercy hath to mortals given Promise and foretaste of Thy heaven.
P. M.
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6. DIVINE LOVE.
j \ 1 Not for affliction, gracious God ! Sons of dust didst Thou create Blossoms on Thy penal rod, Its keen strokes to mitigate.
2 Buds of joy and thorns of sorrow
On the tre;e of life arise.; Care to-day, content to-morrow, Thus human lot diversifies.
3 Upon the verge of midnight's skies,
Dawn's silver herald gleams ; So hope, that on grief's border lies, The heart from gloom redeems.
4 And as night's silence, deep and drear,
By morning's voice is broken, So is the stillness of despair, By words that faith had spoken.
-5 Winter, inclement and unkind,
Yet guards the sleeping flowers, "That spring on its return may find These smiling in her bowers.
6 Adversity's most bitter day
From us this world estrangeth ; But for the soul prepares the way To one that never changeth.
7 The thunder-clouds of war contain
Elements of peace serene, That brings a rainbow back again, Where martial storm had been.
•8 Meek faith converts the couch of pain Into a bed of roses ;
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For there we moral vigor gain, To bear what Grod disposes.
9 The soul there breaks it carnal shell,
Impatient for that station Where saints and seraphs ever dwell, — The kingdom of salvation.
10 A God, a Father, holds the scale
That good and ill comprises ; Oh ! then let trust in Him prevail, Which e'er of these arises. p. M.
7. DIVINE MERCY. GENESIS, CHAP, ix., v. 13.
1 £ 1 When light broke forth at Grod's command, It brightened ocean, air and land, 'Twas then that clouds, and shells, and
flowers Caught vivid colors from its showers.
2 But soon the earth waxed bold in guilt, Defiling shrines by virtue built ; Proud man pursued his evil course, Unchecked by reason or remorse.
3 No ray of light creation cheered ; Skies black as mortal sin appeared ; Then burst the deluge o'er the doomed, And wrath divine a world entombed.
4 Behold ! upon the wings of light, Tremble the rain-drops large and bright ; And, lo ! the tears of recent storm
Have taken Mercy's radiant form.
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5 The bow, the covenant, the token, The promise never to be broken, Expands in beauty o'er the sod, Where Noah rears a shrine to God.
p. M.
•4 £ 1 0 King of glory ! when we contemplate Thy majesty and our mean estate ; Thy purity, that by the angels seen, Makes even their bright spirits seem unclean. How wondrously benign dost Thou appear, O'er mortals to extend a father's care !
2 Oh ! were it not for mercy such as Thine, How could the conscious sinner seek Thy
shrine ?
How hope for grace, when long arrears of sin Recorded stand upon the soul within ? But Thou, 0 Lord ! with clemency divine, Wilt not the guilty to despair consign.
3 Who more than Judah can this truth
attest ?
To whom hath goodness been more manifest? Though from the prophet's harp he proudly
turned,
And inspiration's warning music spurned ; Through ages he to Heaven's promise clings, And far from Zion of salvation sings.
4 Beneath the pressure of a thousand ills, One hope the heart of every Hebrew thrills, That he may yet prove worthy of Thy love, And by repentance ling'ring wrath remove; The frown of Justice change to Mercy's
smile, Blest as an Israelite devoid of guile, p. M.
-1 ^ 1 O'er all this wide and beauteous earth, *• * One God immortal reigns—
His glory, truth, and unity
. Link'd by eternal chains.
2 Let angels join in holy song,
Around His heav'nly throne, And mortals, with undying hope, Look up to Him alone.
3 The gratitude of ev'ry heart
Its incense bears to Thee, 0 Ruler of the starry sky, The earth and boundless sea !
4 Thy mercy shines divinely bright,
A mild, yet glowing beam, And ev'ry soul that worships Thee, In love wilt Thou redeem.
5 Thy blessings fall like morning dews,
To cheer each troubled breast ; Thy presence o'er the universe For ever is confessed.
6 'Tis Thou canst calm the angry waves,
And still the tempest's roar, Almighty God ! whose glory gilds
Eternity's bright shore. c. M. c.
GENESIS, CHAP. xxi.
A O 1 Weeping, and loth from all she loved to part, Stood Hagar, trembling at her Lord's
decree ;
And, oh ! how like a desert was her heart, When from His gentle presence urged to flee.
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2 But Sarah's looks, full of indignant scorn,
The truth to her foreboding soul revealed;
Forth with her infant son she fled forlorn,
And to his /Sire above for aid appealed.
3 Her scanty bread and beverage are spent,