Classic Poem

1.

Ye Saints (to you the talk belongs,
And Praise sits comely on your tongues;)
Bless, bless Jehovah! sweet the joy
When talks like these the voice employ;
Wake to Jehovah 's name the lute,
Nor let the ten-string'd lyre be mute.

2.

O sing, in accents loud and strong,
O sing some new-invented song;
And let the finger's artful stroke
The psalt'ry's various pow'r provoke,
And teach the praise of Israel 's Lord
To vibrate on the sounding chord.

3.

His words eternal Truth has seal'd;
His promises in act fulfill'd
Shall Equity and Judgement prove
The changless objects of his love,
And bid the Earth's wide confines know
The gifts that from his bounty flow.

4.

His Word yon azure vault outspread,
Erc Time the Seasons onward led;
Form'd by his breath the starry host
Their unextinguish'd lustre boast;
While in their cavern'd storehouse sleep
The treasures of the watry deep.

5.

Thy Maker's name, O Earth, revere;
And let thy Sons with holy fear
To Him in low prostration bend,
And duteous his decrees attend.
He spake: And Heav'n, and Seas, and Land,
Appear'd. He bade: And lo, they stand.

6.

Their counsels vain the Heathen Tribes
Unite; but God th' event prescribes,
And blasts at will each hope that springs
Within the breast of haughtiest Kings;
His counsel, from controul secure,
His counsel only shall endure.

7.

His thoughts to Time's remotest bound
With sure effect shall e'er be crown'd:
How blest the People that have known
Him for their God, and Him alone;
The Flock His heritage declar'd,
And objects of His fix'd regard!

8.

Wide o'er the Sons of Earth his eye
The Pow'r eternal from on high
Extends, (that Pow'r, whose hand, with art
Mysterious, forms the human heart,)
Through life's wild maze their steps pursues,
Each act, each thought, attentive views.

9.

Think not, ye Kings, (His aid resign'd,)
In well-arm'd Hosts your help to find:
In vain the Warrior bold and young
Exults, his arm with vigour strung:
In vain, his Lord to save, the steed
Vaunts in the fight his strength and speed.

10.

Hail, sure Protector of the Just!
From Him who builds on Thee his trust
Thy arm averts with studious care
Each death that viewless wings the air;
Thy hand with food his life sustains,
When drought infests the blasted plains.

11.

Our Souls by Thee, their Help and Shield,
With patient hope have stood upheld;
Thy sacred Name our trust, each mind
From Thee shall joy perpetual find:
In mercy give us, Lord, to see
How just the hope that rests on Thee.