University of Virginia Library

In God's high Praise let all Mankind unite,
Be this, my Soul, thy dearest best Delight;
While Life remains, the grateful Hymn I'll raise,
And my last Breath shall sound th'Almighty's Praise.
My Confidence in him will I repose,
Who all my Wants, and all my Dangers knows.
To hope in Man were foolish, weak, and vain,
Ev'n Kings themselves but as Dependents reign;
Soon the frail Mortal yields his fleeting Breath,
And all his vast Designs are sunk in Death.
The fav'rite Scheme his lab'ring Brain had wrought,
And, in his Thoughts, to near Perfection brought;
Is now dissolv'd—with him it disappears,
One fatal Moment blasts the Plan of Years:
Senseless he lies, careless of ev'ry Trust,
A Prey to Worms, Inheritor of Dust.
He cannot help—then let thy searching Mind,
A surer Hope, and safer Refuge find:
Blest is the Man who on the Lord depends,
O greatly blest! whom Jacob's God defends;
Un-chang'd for ever, God's all-hallowed Name,
His Wisdom, Power, and Essence still the same.
The wide-stretch'd Heav'ns were made at his command,
He laid the firm Foundations of the Land;
The Seas un-number'd, rolling Waves record,
In lasting Monuments, his potent Word;
Th'angelic Choirs that his bright Throne surround,
With never-fading Youth and Beauty crown'd;
The tuneful Birds that melodize the Grove,
The noblest Beasts that in the Forest move;
The smallest Reptiles which un-notic'd creep,
The pond'rous Whales that play within the Deep:
Whate'er in Heav'n or Earth, or Seas appear,
By his almighty Pow'r created were,
And still preserv'd by his paternal Care;
His Judgment's right, his promises are sure,
And shall through all Eternity endure.

Be not dismay'd, ye that are sore oppress'd,
For God will surely visit the Distress'd;
The treach'rous Heart, and the defaming Tongue,
He sees, and hears, and will revenge the Wrong.
Man's needy Race he views, with gracious Eyes,
And all their Wants indulgently supplies;
For Bread, he richly stores the Field with Grain,
And for their Vesture sends a fleecy Train.
O praise the Lord, his awful Name adore,
Who has done all Things by his boundless Pow'r!
'Tis he that breaks the Captive's galling Chain,
And brings him back to Liberty again;
Dispenses to the Blind revealing Sight,
Who, raptur'd, see the new amazing Light!
Those who are most depress'd with Pain and Grief,
May call on him, and meet a kind Relief;
Tho' prone on Earth, the abject Mourner lies,
Aided by him he soon shall joyful rise.
He loves the Good, the Pious, and the Just,
Who fear his Pow'r, and in his Mercy trust;
Respect of Persons is to him unknown,
His Bounty is to ev'ry Nation shown.
Let not the lonely Widow's Heart despair,
She shall be safe beneath his Guardian Care;
Her helpless Babes in him a Father find,
The tender Parent of all Human-kind.

In God's high Praise, ye Sons of Men unite,
Be this my Soul, thy dearest best Delight;
While Life remains the grateful Song I'll raise,
And my last Breath shall be Jehovah's Praise.