1 AT God's command, the morning ray
Smiles in the east, and leads the day;
He guides the sun's declining wheels
Over the tops of western hills.

2 Seasons and times obey his voice;
The evening and the morn rejoice
To see the earth made soft with showers,
Laden with fruit, and dressed in flowers.

3 'Tis from his watery stores on high,
He gives the thirsty ground supply;
He walks upon the clouds, and thence
Doth his enriching drops dispense.

4 The desert grows a fruitful field;
Abundant food the valleys yield;
The valleys shout with cheerful voice,
And neighboring hills repeat their joys.

5 Thy works pronounce thy power divine; O'er every field thy glories shine;

Through every month thy gifts appear;
Great God, thy goodness crowns the year.

135

C. M.

WATTS.

The Providence of God. Ps. 65.

1 'TIS by thy strength the mountains stand, God of eternal power;

The sea grows calm at thy command,
And tempests cease to roar.

2 Thy morning light and evening shade
Successive comforts bring;

Thy plenteous fruits make harvest glad;
Thy flowers adorn the spring.

3 Seasons, and times, and moons, and hours,
Heaven, earth, and air, are thine;
When clouds distil in fruitful showers,
The Author is divine.

4 Those wandering cisterns in the sky,
Borne by the winds around,
With watery treasures well supply
The furrows of the ground.

5 The thirsty ridges drink their fill,
And ranks of corn appear;

Thy ways abound with blessings still;
Thy goodness crowns the year.

136

C. M.

WATTS.

The Blessings of the Spring. Ps. 65.

1 GOOD is the Lord, the heavenly King,
Who makes the earth his care,
Visits the pastures every spring,
And bids the grass appear.

2 The clouds, like rivers raised on high,
Pour out, at thy command,

Their watery blessings from the sky,
To cheer the thirsty land.

3 The softened ridges of the field
Permit the corn to spring;
The valleys rich provision yield,
And the poor laborers sing.

4 The little hills, on every side,
Rejoice at falling showers;

The meadows, dressed in all their pride,
Perfume the air with flowers.

5 The barren clods, refreshed with rain,
Promise a joyful crop ;

The parched grounds look green again,
And raise the reapers' hope.

6 The various months thy goodness crowns; How bounteous are thy ways!

The bleating flocks spread o'er the downs, And shepherds shout thy praise.

137

6s & 8s M.

J. TAYLOR.

Providence acknowledged in the Seasons.

1 REJOICE! the Lord is King; Your Lord and King adore; Mortals, give thanks and sing,

And triumph evermore:

Lift up your hearts, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, in sacred lays rejoice.

2 His wintry north winds blow;
Loud tempests rush amain;
Yet his thick showers of snow
Defend the infant grain :

Lift up your hearts, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, in sacred lays rejoice.

3 He wakes the genial spring,
Perfumes the balmy air;
The vales their tribute bring,
The promise of the year:

Lift up your hearts, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, in sacred lays rejoice.

4 He leads the circling year;
His flocks the hills adorn;

He fills the golden ear,

And loads the field with corn: O happy mortals, raise your voice; Rejoice, in sacred lays rejoice.

5 Lead on your fleeting train,

Ye years, and months, and days;
O, bring the eternal reign

Of love, and joy, and praise:

Lift up your hearts, lift up your voice ;
Rejoice, in sacred lays rejoice.

138

L. M.

J. Q. ADAMS.

Ps. 65.

1 FOR thee in Zion waiteth praise,
O God, O thou that hearest prayer;
To thee the suppliant voice we raise;
To thee shall all mankind repair.

On thee the ends of earth rely;
In thee the distant seas confide;
By thee the mountains brave the sky,
And girded by thy strength abide.

2 Thou speakest to the tempest peace;
The roaring wave obeys thy nod;
The tumults of the people cease;

Earth trembles at the voice of God:
The morning's dawn, the evening's shade,
Alike thy power with gladness see;
The fields from thee the rains receive,
And swell with fruitfulness by thee.

3 Thy river, gracious God, o'erflows;

Its streams for human wants provide; At thy command the harvest grows, By thy refreshing showers supplied: Thy bounty clothes the plains with grass; Thy path drops fatness as it goes; And wheresoe'er thy footsteps pass, The desert blossoms like the rose.

4 Thy goodness crowns the circling year;
The wilderness repeats thy voice;
The mountains clad with flocks appear;
The hills on every side rejoice;
And harvests from the valleys spring;
The reaper's sickle they employ ;
And, hark! how hill and valley ring
With universal shouts of joy!