Universal Praise. Ps. 148.

1 LET every creature join

WATTS.

To praise the eternal God:
Ye heavenly hosts, the song begin,
And sound his name abroad.

2 Thou sun, with golden beams,
And moon, with paler rays,
Ye starry lights, ye twinkling flames,
Shine to your Maker's praise.

3 He built those worlds above,

And fixed their wondrous frame;
By his command they stand or move,
And ever speak his name.

4 Ye vapors, when ye rise,

Or fall in showers or snow,

Ye thunders, murmuring round the skies,
His power and glory show.

5 Wind, hail, and flashing fire,
Agree to praise the Lord,

When ye in dreadful storms conspire
To execute his word.

6 United zeal be shown

His wondrous fame to raise :
God is the Lord; his name alone
Deserves our endless praise.

7 By all his works above

His honors be expressed;

But saints, that taste his saving love,
Should sing his praises best.

13

C. M.

WATTS.

Universal Praise. Ps. 47.

1 O FOR a shout of sacred joy
To God, the sovereign King!
Let every land their tongues employ,
And hymns of triumph sing.

2 While angels shout, and praise their King, Let mortals learn their strains;

Let all the earth his honor sing;
O'er all the earth he reigns.

3 Rehearse his praise with awe profound,
Let knowledge lead the song;

Nor mock him with a solemn sound
Upon a thoughtless tongue.

4 In Israel stood his ancient throne;
He loved that chosen race;
But now he calls the world his own,
And heathens taste his grace.

14

S. M.

Praise.

MONTGOMERY.

1 STAND up, and bless the Lord,

Ye people of his choice;

Stand up, and bless the Lord your God,
With heart, and soul, and voice.

2 Though high above all praise,
Above all blessing high,

Who would not fear his holy name,
And laud, and magnify?

3 O for the living flame,

From his own altar brought,

To touch our lips, our minds inspire,
And raise to heaven our thought!

4 There, with benign regard,

Our hymns he deigns to hear;
Though unrevealed to mortal sense,
The spirit feels him near.

5 Stand up, and bless the Lord;
The Lord your God adore;

Stand up, and bless his glorious name,
Henceforth forevermore.

15

C. M.

NEW ENG. VERSION.

Ps. 107.

1 YOUR thanks unto the Lord
Because that good is he;
Because his loving-kindnesses
Last to eternity.

express,

2 So say the Lord's redeemed, whom bought He hath from enemies' hands;

And from the east and west hath brought,
From south and northern lands.

3 Then did they to Jehovah cry,
When they were in distress,
Who did them set at liberty
Out of their anguishes.

4 0 that men praise Jehovah would,
For his great goodness then,

And for his wonders manifold
Unto the sons of men!

16

L. M.

Universal Praise. Ps. 148.

WATTS.

1 THE Lord! how absolute he reigns!
Let every angel bend the knee,
Sing of his love in heavenly strains,
And speak how fierce his terrors be.
2 High on a throne his glories dwell,
An awful throne of shining bliss;
Fly through the world, O sun, and tell
How dark thy beams compared to his.
3 Awake, ye tempests, and his fame

In sounds of dreadful praise declare ;
And the sweet whisper of his name
Fill every gentler breeze of air.

4 Let clouds, and winds, and waves, agree To join their praise with blazing fire; Let the firm earth and rolling sea

In this eternal song conspire.

5 Mortals, can you refrain your tongue,
When nature all around you sings?

O for a shout from old and young,
From humble swains and lofty kings!

17

C. M.

WATTS.

Universal Hallelujah. Ps. 148.

1 PRAISE ye the Lord, immortal choir,
That fill the realms above;

Sing, for he formed you of his fire,
And feeds you with his love.

2 Shine to his praise, ye crystal skies,
The floor of his abode;

Or veil your little twinkling eyes
Before a brighter God.

3 Thou restless globe of golden light,
Whose beams create our days,
Join with the silver queen of night,
To own your borrowed rays.

4 Winds, ye shall bear his name aloud
Through the ethereal blue;
For, when his chariot is a cloud,
He makes his wheels of you.

5 Thunder, and hail, and fires, and storms,
The troops of his command,
Appear in all your dreadful forms,
And speak his awful hand.

6 Shout to the Lord, ye surging seas,
In your eternal roar;

Let wave to wave resound his praise,
And shore reply to shore.

7 Wave your tall heads, ye lofty pines,
To him that bade you grow;

Sweet clusters, bend the fruitful vines
On every thankful bough.

8 Thus, while the meaner creatures sing,
Ye mortals, take the sound;
Echo the glories of your King
Through all the nations round.

18