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214.

CREATION.

And God said, let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. With verdure clad, the fields appear delightful to the ravished sense

By flowers, and gay enhanced is the charming sight,

Here fragrant herbs their odors shed; here shoots the healing plant;

With copious fruits the expanded boughs are hung;

In leafy arches twine the shady groves; o'er lofty hills majestic forests wave.

Achieved is the glorious work; our song let be the praise of God.

Glory to His name for ever.

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He sole on high

215.

IF WITH ALL YOUR HEARTS YE TRULY SEEK ME.

Ye people, rend your hearts, and not your garments, for your transgressions; even as Elijah hath sealed the heavens through the word of God.

I therefore say to ye, forsake your idols, return to God; for He is slow to anger, and merciful, and kind, and gracious, and repenteth Him of the evil.

If with all your hearts ye truly seek Me, ye shall ever truly find Me. Thus said our

God.

O that I knew where I might find Him, that I might even come before His presence!

216.

THE VOICE OF THE WATCHMAN.

Behold there shall be a day, when the watchman upon the mountain top shall cry aloud: "Arise ye! Get ye up unto Mount Zion, unto the Lord your God!" For thus said the Lord:

Fear not now, O Israel, neither be thou dismayed. Refrain thine voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for I, the Lord, am with thee, and will save thee. I have loved thee with everlasting love, and have redeemed thee.

Why cryest thou in thine affliction? Why mournest thou in nightly watches? I have redeemed thee.

Therefore thus saith the Lord: Sing ye aloud with gladness! Thy mourning is turned into joy!

I, even I, have redeemed thee. Be glad and rejoice! Thy sorrows now are ended, and great shall be thy peace.

Rejoice! be glad and rejoice.
Then fear not,

Israel, neither be thou dis

mayed, I have redeemed thee!

217.

THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE LORD'S GLORY.

The heavens are declaring the Lord's endless glory,

Through all the earth His praise is found; The seas re-echo the marvelous story, O man, repeat that glorious sound. The starry host, He orders and measures, He fills the morning's golden springs;

He wakes the sun from his night curtained slumber,

Oh! man, adore the King of kings.

What power and splendor and wisdom and order,

In nature's mighty plan unrolled!

Through space and time to infinity's border, What wonders vast and manifold!

The earth is His, and the heavens o'er it bending

The Maker in His works behold!

He is and will be through ages unending
A God of strength and love untold.

218.

THE WORTH OF SUFFERING.

O deem not that earth's crowning bliss
Is found in joy alone,

For sorrow, bitter though it be,
Hath blessings all its own.

As blossoms smitten by the rain
Their sweetest odors yield;

As where the plough has deepest struck,
Rich harvests crown the field.

So, too, the hopes, by sorrow crushed,
A nobler faith succeeds,
And life, by trials furrowed, bears
The fruit of loving deeds.

219.

UNTO GOD LIFT UP THY GAZE.

Solemn sounds, O man, awake thee;
"Unto God lift up thy gaze!
Ere dark death shall overtake thee,
Sinner, leave thy sinful ways."

Solemn sounds, this day remind thee:
"Choose thou life, while here beneath;

Cast all sinful lust behind thee;
Virtue is life's crowning wreath."

Solemn sounds, O man, exhort thee:
"To thy ways on earth take heed;
None but thine own deeds escort thee
To God's throne, for thee to plead."

220.

WE PRAISE THEE.

We praise Thee, Lord, who mad'st the world Thy tent;

To Thee on wings of song my soul is soaring:

O Thou, residing in the firmament,

To Thee we bow in awe, Thy grace imploring.

Who is like Thee, so excellent in might? Who is like Thee in glory, truth and splendor?

The heavens are Thy throne, Thy garb is light,

Sun, moon and stars to Thee their homage render.

Yet with a father's love Thou look 'st on earth, To mete Thy mercies out to all Thy crea

tures;

From Thee all gifts, all joys of life spring forth,

And man hast Thou endowed with heavenly features.

221.

PRAISE THE LORD, OH JERUSALEM.

Praise the Lord, Oh Jerusalem, praise thy God, Oh Zion!

For He hath made fast the bars of thy gates, And hath blessed thy children within thee. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,

Slow to anger and of great goodness.

The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.

All Thy works praise Thee, Oh Lord, and Thy saints give thanks unto Thee.

The valleys stand so thick with corn that they laugh and sing.

Praise the Lord, Oh Jerusalem, praise Thy God, Oh Zion.

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