HYMN 167. (L. M.) The Divine Perfections.
I
Great God, thy glories shall employ
My holy fear, my humble joy;
My lips in songs of honour bring
Their tribute to th'eternal King.
II
Earth and the stars and worlds unknown
Depend precarious on his throne;
All nature hangs upon his word,
And grace and glory own their Lord.
III
His sovereign power what mortal knows?
If he command who dares oppose?
With strength he girds himself around,
And treads the rebels to the ground.
IV
Who shall pretend to teach him skill?
Or guide the counsels of his will?
His wisdom like a sea divine
Flows deep and high beyond our line.
V
His name is holy, and his eye
Burns with immortal jealousy;
He hates the sons of pride, and sheds
His fiery vengeance on their heads.
VI
The beamings of his piercing sight
Bring dark hypocrisy to light;
Death and destruction naked lie,
And hell uncover'd to his eye.
VII
Th'eternal law before him stands;
His justice with impartial hands
Divides to all their due reward,
Or by the sceptre or the sword.
VIII
His mercy like a boundless sea
Washes our loads of guilt away,
While his own Son came down and dy'd
T'engage his justice on our side.
IX
Each of his words demands my faith,
My soul can rest on all he saith;
His truth inviolably keeps
The largest promise of his lips.
X
O tell me with a gentle voice
‘Thou art my God,’ and I'll rejoice!
Fill'd with thy love, I dare proclaim
The brightest honours of thy name.
