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A SONG of Praise.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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134

A SONG of Praise.

Prepare, my soul, thy noblest lays,
And speak thy great deliv'rer's praise.
Awake, my voice, and gentle lute,
Nor let one grateful string be mute;
And, oh! ye sacred pow'rs of love,
Let me all your influence prove:
Ye heav'nly Virtues, guide my tongue,
Or teach me some celestial song;
Such as your own flame inspires,
When you touch your golden lyres;
And in the fair ethereal bow'rs,
Sing away your happy hours.
Begin, begin the tuneful lays,
While the morning's early rays
All their golden lustre spread
O'er the tow'ring mountain's head;
Nor cease 'till noon, 'till sable night
Conceal the world from mortal sight.
From the lowest depths of care,
To God I sent a doubtful pray'r;
Yet he lent a gracious ear,
And scatter'd all my groundless fear.
While these lips draw vital breath,
'Till I close my eyes in death,

135

I'll ne'er forget thy wond'rous love,
Nor thoughtless of thy favours prove.
Beneath thy shadowing wings defence
I'll place my only confidence;
In ev'ry danger and distress,
To thee I will my pray'r address.
Let all my hopes on earth be lost,
In thee I'll make my constant boast;
I'll spread the glories of thy name,
And thy unbounded love proclaim.
You that sink in dark despair,
To God direct your humble pray'r;
From his lofty seat he hears
Our sad complaints, and drys our tears;
He regards the pensive breast,
And gives the weary pilgrim rest;
On human mis'ries, from his throne,
With soft compassion he looks down;
The weight of all our grief he knows,
And seems to share our secret woes.
Lord, what is man, that he should prove
The object of such boundless love?
Whence can such wond'rous bounty spring,
To such a vain and worthless thing?
Why should he so largely share
Thy favour, and thy tender care?
Why thy sacred thoughts employ,
In the heights of perfect joy?

136

O let ev'ry grateful tongue
Speak thy praise in lofty song;
And thou, my soul, join all thy pow'rs,
In this blest work employ thy hours.