The Choir and The Oratory :: :: University of Virginia Library

My heart is labouring with a glorious theme:
My song is of the King. My tongue doth teem
With glowing thoughts, which it would fain disclose,
As language from the practised writer flows.

In that countenance benign,
Beauties more than human shine:
Gracious words those lips dispense,
Dropping sweetest eloquence;
For Jehovah, on thy head,
Hath eternal blessings shed.

Arise, gird on Thy sword,
O Thou most mighty Lord!
Put on Thy panoply of light,
And in Thy majesty
Ride forth triumphantly,
Thy chariot, Truth, the meek and poor to right.

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Let Thy right hand spread terror all before,
That nations may fall prostrate and adore.
Oh let them know, who dare Thy reign oppose,
How sharp the arrows that subdue Thy foes.

Eternal is Thy Throne, O God!
Eternal justice is Thy kingly rod.
Beloved of Thee, the righteous meet reward,
Nor less by Thee the wicked are abhorred.
Therefore, O Christ, on Thine exalted head,
Jehovah hath the royal unction shed,
Above Thy peers; and unto Thee
Shall every creature bow the knee.

All Thy robes around Thee shed
Richest odours sweetly blended,
When, from ivory halls, attended
By joyful choirs, thy pomp is led.
Amid the virgin train are seen
Daughters of Kings, and many a royal maid;
While at Thy right hand, gloriously arrayed
In gold of Ophir, stands the Queen.

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Hearken, O daughter! See thy King draw near,
And to His accents bow thy willing ear.
Thy native land remote no more regret,
But in His love thy father's house forget:
So in thy beauty shall the King delight;
Thy Lord, who claims thy homage as His right.
The rich with gifts thy favour shall entreat,
And Tyre shall pour her treasures at thy feet.

How fair, in bridal glory drest,
The Queen,—of woven gold her vest,
Her flowing robe of purple dye,
Enwrought with Phrygian broidery.
Now is she led, O King, to Thee,
With all her virgin company:
With sounds of joy and nuptial song,
The glad procession moves along;
And to the royal courts they bring
The spotless Consort of the King.
Sons to their fathers shall succeed;
Princes of earth shall be thy seed;
Thy name remotest times adore;
Thy praise endure for evermore.

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DAVID'S HEIR AND LORD.

Psalm cx.

Thus to my Sovereign hath Jehovah said:
“Enthroned at my right hand, await the hour
When every rebel that withstands Thy power
Shall crouch beneath Thy feet. The sceptre swayed
By Sion's King, remotest tribes shall own;
Thy foes shall come and bow before Thy Throne.
Upon these hallowed hills shall be displayed
Thy power divine; and here with glad accord,
The chosen race shall own their rightful Lord.
A countless progeny, a seed new-born,
Innumerous as the dew-drops of the morn,
Shall be that day disclosed, in glorious pomp arrayed.”

Thus hath Jehovah with an oath decreed,
The God who changeth not: “Be Thou ordained
High-priest for ever;—not as Aaron's seed,
But as, of old, Melchisedec sustained,

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In mystic union, both exalted names,
Pontiff and King;—type of Thy sacred claims.”

But in that day of wrath, Oh, who shall stand,
When He who sits at God's right hand,
In vengeance shall descend again?
Then kings shall from their thrones be hurled;
Then shall the nations of the world
Be judged: on the mighty slain
The birds shall banquet: He will whelm
The Prince of many a leagued realm
With dismal ruin, endless pain.
But first the Conqueror shall taste
Of that dark torrent in His way:
Then to pursue His triumph haste,
And, Lord of all, enjoy His universal sway.

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THE KING OF GLORY.

Psalm xxiv.

The Earth is Thine, O God, this teeming earth;
Thine the round world, with all its thousand nations.
Thy plastic word gave the vast fabric birth,
And planted in the deep its firm foundations.
But Sion is the temple of Thy grace:
Who may ascend to tread that holy place?

The man whose hands are clean, whose heart is pure;
The man of guileless lips, of humble spirit;
Let him draw nigh the blessing to secure:
He shall the favour of his God inherit.
These are the men, O God, who seek Thy face,
And they shall joyful tread that holy place.

Lift up your heads, O gates!
Give, ye eternal portals, entrance meet!
Behold, the triumph waits!
The King of Glory enters to His seat.

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Who is this glorious King? Rehearse His claim.
Jehovah, God of Hosts, the Almighty is His name.

Lift up your heads, O gates!
Give, ye eternal portals, entrance meet!
For lo! the triumph waits:
The King of Glory enters to His seat.
Who is this glorious One whose praise ye sing?
Jehovah, God of Hosts; and He is Israel's King.

“THE GOD OF GLORY THUNDERETH.”

Psalm xxix.

Give, O ye mighty, to Jehovah give
Glory: to Him ascribe all power and might.
Oh, render to the Lord the glory due
To His dread name: His courts with reverence tread.

Jehovah's voice is on the waters. Lo!
The God of glory thundereth: 'tis His voice
Upon the mighty deep—His voice of power,
Jehovah's voice of awful majesty.

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Before Jehovah's voice the cedars break:
It shivereth the pride of Lebanon.
Affrighted Lebanon bounds at that voice,
Like a wild heifer: loftiest Sirion
Plunges and starts like a young buffalo.
Jehovah's voice, scattering the forked flames,
Jehovah's voice shakes the wide wilderness,
Uproots the oak, and lays the forest bare.
For lo! the firmament His temple is,
Where all things utter forth His glorious name.
His throne is on the stormy deep. He reigns
The universal King; for ever reigns.
His people, 'mid the warring elements,
Are safe. The Lord will give his people peace.

“THE LORD ON HIGH IS MIGHTIER THAN THE NOISE OF MANY WATERS.”

The Eternal reigns: His vesture is the light;
His robes are majesty, His cincture, might.

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The universe, the fabric of His hands,
On the firm base of his appointment stands.
But older far than Time itself Thy throne,
Thou from eternity hast reigned alone.

How terrible, when storms arise,
Is Ocean's dread uproar,
Swelling in mountains to the skies,
And warring with the shore!
O Thou Most High for evermore!
What is the Ocean's might to Thine, whose sway
The angry waves confess, and raging winds obey!

Sealed by that Power divine,
Thy covenant, O God, is sure;
Thy truth for ever shall endure;
Thy Church, arrayed in lustre pure,
Shall to Thy glory, Lord, through endless ages shine.

129

THE EXODE.

Psalm cxiv.

When Israel's host went forth from Mizraim's land,
Land of their bondage and a race abhorr'd,
Then Judah was made holy to the Lord:
Then Jacob's tribes, led forth at his command,
Became his kingdom. Wonders marked their way.
The Sea beheld, and fled. Jordan forsook
His channel. Sinai trembled with dismay,
And all her hills, like frighted younglings, shook.
Wherefore, O Sea, didst thou retreat? Thy fountains
Why didst thou stay, O Jordan? Why, ye mountains,
Shook ye, and bounded, like a frighted flock?
It was Jehovah's presence struck with awe
The trembling earth: the Flood her Maker saw,
At whose command gushed forth a river from the rock.

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THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS.

Psalm lxxxi.

Sing, sing aloud to God our Might,
To Jacob's God and King:
Raise high the psalm; the tabor smite,
And sweep the sounding string:
And let the shrill-toned trumpet call
To Israel's solemn festival.

For such hath been, from ancient date,
A statute in the land;
By God ordained to celebrate
The act of His right hand,
Which saved our Fathers from among
A tyrant race of foreign tongue.

“It was My hand the chain of bondage broke,
And freed them from the yoke.
When in extremity my help they sought,
My arm their rescue wrought.
From Sinai's dark recess came forth my word,
In vocal thunders heard.

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And when at Meribah their faith I tried,
The rock its stream supplied.
Oh that my people would my laws observe,
Nor from my covenant swerve!
Before no idol shalt thou bow, nor own
As God but Me alone.
I am thy God, Jehovah, whose right hand
Led thee from Egypt's land;
Who rained down showers of manna, angels' food,
And filled thy mouth with good.
But Israel would not bend a duteous ear:
They cast away my fear.
So to their own heart's will and passion's strength,
I gave them up at length.
Oh that my people had my law revered,
And to my ways adhered!
Soon had I humbled then their haughty foe,
And brought the oppressor low.
The impious should with awe my power have seen.
How blest had Israel been!
I would have filled their stores with golden shocks,
And honey from the rocks.”

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HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOR EVER.

Psalm cxxxvi.

To our God loud praises give,
Source of good to all who live:
Praise His name whose mercy sure
Shall eternally endure.

To the Lord your homage bring,
God of gods, of kings the King:
For his mercy, free and sure,
Shall eternally endure.

Praise Him for his deeds of might;
For His greatness infinite;
For His mercy free and sure,
Which doth evermore endure.

Who by wisdom built the skies,
And bade earth from ocean rise;

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Filled the sun with glorious light;
Gave the moon to rule the night,
'Mid the stars in courses bright.
Praise Him, for His mercy sure
Shall eternally endure.

Who, when Pharaoh hardened grew,
Egypt's every first-born slew;
Leading forth, with upraised hand,
Israel from the accursed land.
For his mercy, free and sure,
Shall eternally endure.

Who, between the parted sea,
Marched his people safe and free;
But o'er Pharaoh closed the wave,
Whelmed beneath the watery grave.
For His mercy, free and sure,
Shall eternally endure.

Who through deserts wide and dread,
Israel, like a shepherd, led:
Who, for their sakes, monarchs slew,
Mighty monarchs overthrew;

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Sihon, the proud Amorite,
Bashan's lord, of giant might;
And his Israel did advance
To the rich inheritance.
For his mercy, free and sure,
Shall eternally endure.

Who beheld us when brought low,
And redeemed us from the foe.
For His mercy, free and sure,
Shall eternally endure.

Who doth every blessing give:
By whose bounty all things live.
For His mercy, free and sure,
Shall eternally endure.

O give thanks; your voices raise
To the God of heaven in praise.
For his mercy, free and sure,
Shall eternally endure.

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“PRAISE HIM, ALL YE NATIONS.”

Psalm cxvii.

Jehovah's praise sublime
Through the wide earth be sung:
Ye realms of every clime,
Ye tribes of every tongue:
His infinite compassion bless,
His ever-during faithfulness.

THE KING GOING FORTH TO BATTLE.

Psalm xx.

CHORUS.
In the day of thy distress,
May Jehovah hear thee!
In the hour when dangers press,
Jacob's God be near thee!
Send thee from His holy place,
Timely aid or strengthening grace!

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May thy prayers and offerings rise
By thy God recorded!
Thine oblations reach the skies,
Graciously rewarded!
Granted be thy heart's request;
All thy purposes be blest!

Thy success our hearts shall cheer:
We with glad acclaim
Will our grateful trophies rear
In Jehovah's name.
Go beneath His guardian care,
And the Lord fulfil Thy prayer!

KING.
Now am I assured the Lord
Will His servant shield,
Succour from the heavens afford,
Guard me in the field.
Let them trust their vaunted force,
Scythed car and marshalled horse:—

137

Be our trust His mighty Name
Who outspread the skies.
Theirs shall be defeat and shame:
We shall victors rise.

CHORUS.
Save the King, O God most high!
Hear us in our fervent cry.

THANKSGIVING AFTER VICTORY.

Psalm xxvii.

Jehovah is my light:
My safeguard is His might:
Then wherefore should I be of man afraid?
God is the citadel
In which by faith I dwell:
Why should I be at earth or hell dismayed?

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What time against me rose
My fierce and impious foes,
In mid career they met their overthrow.
Should adverse hosts again
Fill the embattled plain,
Nor terror nor distrust this heart shall know.

This is my cherished hope,
Of all my prayers the scope;
To dwell for ever near Jehovah's seat,—
Frequent the holy rites
In which my heart delights,
And guidance of His oracles entreat.

In time of my distress,
The sanctuary's recess
Should an asylum to my soul afford.
And what though foes assail,
I shall one day prevail,
And in his courts sing praises to the Lord.

139

O Lord! in mercy hear,
And for my help appear.
Hast Thou not bidden me to seek Thy face?
“I will,” my heart replied.
Thy face no longer hide,
Nor from thy throne, in wrath, Thy suppliant chase.

Through many a trying scene
Thou hast my Helper been:
Leave me not, Thou on whom my hopes depend!
Yea, though of friends bereft,
By father, mother left,
My Heavenly Parent will my cause befriend.

Thy way, Thy will unfold,
And all my steps uphold.
Guide Thou my feet, for watchful are my foes.
From dark conspiracy,
O Lord, deliver me,
Nor to the perjured tongue my name expose.

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Thus faith sustained my prayer,
And saved me from despair.
Still shall I live his praise to celebrate.
Be of courageous heart;
The Lord will strength impart.
Wait on the Lord, yea, confidently wait.

NON NOBIS, DOMINE.

Psalm cxv.

Not unto us, not unto us, O Lord,
But let fresh glory to Thy name accrue.
For Thy own mercy's sake, O God, afford
Thy saving help; to shew that Thou art true.
Why should the heathen that around us dwell,
Say, Where is now the God of Israel?

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Our God is in the heavens; there stands His throne;
Controlling all things by His sovereign will.
But theirs are idol gods of wood or stone.
The sculptor's cunning, or the goldsmith's skill,
Gives to the molten deity its mould,—
A man of silver, or a calf of gold.

Lips have they, but which never move in speech;
Eyes, but in them no conscious meanings dwell;
Ears that the votary's prayer can never reach,
Nor can their nostrils the rich incense smell.
Powerless those hands; those feet have never stirr'd;
Nor from their throat the oracle is heard.

Such are their gods: the makers are the same:
Let all who worship them become as dust.
O Israël, trust in Jehovah's Name,
Thy help and shield. O house of Aaron, trust
Only in Him, with all who fear the Lord;
Your help to succour, and your shield to ward.

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The Lord, who hath remembered us for good,
His mercy still to Israel will shew:
Will bless His servants and the multitude
Of them that fear Him, whether high or low.
Rich blessings on their offspring shall descend,
Who call the Maker of the world their Friend.

Most high above all heavens our God doth reign.
This beauteous earth to Adam's race He gave,
That man might praise Him. Lord! Thy people slain,
How shall they praise Thee in the silent grave?
But we Thy saving mercy will adore,
And celebrate Thy praise for evermore.

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PRAISE THE LORD.

Psalm cl.

Praise the Lord!
Praise His name who dwells in light:
Praise the Lord who built the sky.
Praise Him for His deeds of might:
Praise His glorious majesty.
Swell the chorus to the sound
Of the trumpet's thrilling voice:
Bid harp and dulcimer rejoice,
And timbrel to the pipe rebound.
Nor let the silver-stringed lute
Or pipe of many reeds be mute.
Let the cymbals sweetly ring.
All the powers of music bring;
And let every breathing thing
Praise the Lord.

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PRAISE AND PRAYER.

“Is any among you afficted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” —James v. 13.

Art thou merry? Child of earth,
Wouldst thou long enjoy thy mirth?
Vent the high and gladsome mood
In the joy of gratitude.
Raise the song of triumph; raise
The hymn in glad accord.
Oh, 'tis good His Name to praise:
Be joyful in the Lord.

Art thou sad, with cares opprest,
Seeking comfort, wanting rest?
Pray, and thou shalt find relief:
In this channel spend thy grief.
Take the blessed peace and strength
God's promises afford.
Those that sorrow, shall at length
Be joyful in the Lord.