Devotional Verses Founded on and Illustrative of select Texts of Scripture [by Bernard Barton] |
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THE PRAISE OF GOD. |
 | Devotional Verses |  |
THE PRAISE OF GOD.
“Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord!”
—Psalm, cl. 6.
'Twas thus the Psalmist clos'd his lays,
Invoking all to join his praise;
Oh! who shall disobey a call
Which solemnly appeals to all?
Invoking all to join his praise;
Oh! who shall disobey a call
Which solemnly appeals to all?
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What heart can truly feel his strain,
And prove that invocation vain?
What spirit but, with full accord,
Must inly answer, “Praise the Lord!”
And prove that invocation vain?
What spirit but, with full accord,
Must inly answer, “Praise the Lord!”
Yet who, O God! by thee untaught,
Shall dare to praise thee, e'en in thought?
When seraph harps around thy throne
Wake to that theme their sweetest tone.
Shall dare to praise thee, e'en in thought?
When seraph harps around thy throne
Wake to that theme their sweetest tone.
No pomp of verse can win thine ear,
Genius itself is powerless here;
The only praise by Thee desir'd
Must be by Thee alone inspir'd.
Genius itself is powerless here;
The only praise by Thee desir'd
Must be by Thee alone inspir'd.
Thy Spirit must its aid impart,
Must cleanse and sanctify the heart;
And through thy Son, for sinners slain,
Our spirits must be born again.
Must cleanse and sanctify the heart;
And through thy Son, for sinners slain,
Our spirits must be born again.
Thus, only, man is render'd meet
A strain so heavenly to repeat;
Then, only, can he hope to raise
To Thee accepted songs of praise.
A strain so heavenly to repeat;
Then, only, can he hope to raise
To Thee accepted songs of praise.
The ransom'd and redeem'd alone
Can make thy glorious triumphs known;
And e'en their silence oft may be
The most expressive praise of Thee.
Can make thy glorious triumphs known;
And e'en their silence oft may be
The most expressive praise of Thee.
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