I FOUNTAIN of mercy! God of love!
How rich Thy bounties are!
The changing seasons, as they move,
Proclaim Thy constant care.
2 When in the bosom of the earth
The sower hid the grain,
Thy goodness marked its secret birth,
And sent the early rain.
3 The spring's sweet influence, Lord, was Thine,
The plants in beauty grew;
Thou gav'st refulgent suns to shine,
And soft refreshing dew.
4 These varied mercies from above
Matured the swelling grain:
A kindly harvest crowns Thy love,
And plenty fills the plain.
5 We own and bless Thy gracious sway,
Thy hand all nature hails;
Seed-time nor harvest, night nor day,
Summer nor winter, fails.
6 Fountain of love, our praise is Thine,
To Thee our songs we'll raise,
And all created nature join
In sweet harmonious praise.
I GOD the Lord hath heard our prayer,
God has lightened all our care;
To His glorious throne on high
Rose His children's mournful cry:
Hallelujah! praises sing
To our Father and our King.
2 Helpless, Lord, Thy face we sought,
Thou hast our deliverance wrought;
God, who gave us faith to pray,
Gives us thankful hearts to-day:
Hallelujah! Lord, to Thee
Sing we, though unworthily.
3 Now the night of grief is gone,
Now with joy breaks forth the morn;
Trust in God, if ye would prove
All the riches of His love:
Hallelujah! praise the Lord,
Trust His love, and plead His word!
4 Praise to God who heard our cry!
Praise to Christ who pleads on high!
And the Holy Ghost who gave
Strength our Father's help to crave:
Worship, praise, and glory be
To the blessed Trinity!
I GREAT God, as seasons disappear,
And changes mark the rolling year,
Thy favour still doth crown our days,
And we would celebrate Thy praise.
2 The harvest song we would repeat:
"Thou givest us the finest wheat:"
"The joy of harvest" we have known :
The praise, O Lord, is all Thine own.
3 Our tables spread, our garners stored,
O give us hearts to bless Thee, Lord;
Forbid it, Source of light and love,
That hearts and lives should barren prove.
4 Another harvest comes apace :
Mature our spirits by Thy grace,
That we may calmly meet the blow
The sickle gives to lay us low;—
5 That so, when angel reapers come
To gather sheaves to Thy blest home,
Our spirits may be borne on high
To Thy safe garner in the sky.
I LORD of the Harvest, Thee we hail;
Thine ancient promise doth not fail;
The varying seasons haste their round;
With goodness all our years are crowned:
Our thanks we pay, this holy day;
O let our hearts in tune be found!
2 When spring awakes the song of mirth,
When summer warms the fruitful earth,
When winter sweeps the naked plain,
Or autumn yields its ripened grain,
We still do sing, to Thee our King;
Through all their changes Thou dost reign.
3 But chiefly when Thy liberal hand
Bestows new plenty o'er the land,—
When sounds of music fill the air,
As, homeward, all their treasures bear;
With them we raise our hymn of praise
For we Thy common bounties share.
4 Lord of the Harvest, all is Thine,-
The rains that fall, the suns that shine,
The seed once hidden in the ground,
The skill that makes our fruits abound.
New every year thy gifts appear;
New praises from our lips shall sound.
717
J. H. GURNEY.
6.6.4.6.6.6.4.
3 The God of harvest praise;
Hands, hearts, and voices raise,
With sweet accord;
From field to garner throng;
Bearing your sheaves along;
And in your harvest song
Bless ye the Lord.
I PRAISE to God, immortal praise,
For the love that crowns our days;
Bounteous source of every joy,
Let Thy praise our tongues employ.
2 Flocks that whiten all the plain,
Yellow sheaves of ripened grain;
Clouds that drop their fattening dews,
Suns that temperate warmth diffuse.
3 All that spring with bounteous hand
Scatters o'er the smiling land;
All that liberal autumn pours
From her rich, o'erflowing stores,—
4 Lord, for these our souls shall raise
Grateful vows and solemn praise;
And when every blessing's flown,
Love Thee for Thyself alone.
I SWELL the anthem, raise the song;
Praises to our God belong;
Saints and angels join to sing
Praises to the heavenly King.
2 Blessings from His liberal hand
Flow around this happy land;
Kept by Him, no foes annoy;
Peace and freedom we enjoy.
3 Here, beneath a virtuous sway,
May we cheerfully obey;
Never feel oppression's rod;
Ever own and worship God.
4 Hark! the voice of nature sings
Praises to the King of kings;
Let us join the choral song,
And the grateful notes prolong.
I How welcome was the call,
And sweet the festal lay,
When Jesus deigned in Cana's hall
To bless the marriage day.
2 And happy was the bride,
And glad the bridegroom's heart,
For He who tarried at their side
Bade grief and ill depart.
3 O Lord of life and love,
Come Thou again to-day;
And bring a blessing from above,
That ne'er shall pass away.
4 Before Thine altar-throne
This mercy we implore;
As Thou dost knit them, Lord, in one,
So bless them evermore.
I O LOVE Divine and golden,
Mysterious depth and height!
To Thee the world beholden,
Looks up for life and light:
O Love Divine and gentle,
The Blesser and the blest!
Beneath Thy care parental
The world lies down in rest.
2 O Love Divine and tender,
That through our homes doth move,
Veiled in the softened splendour
Of holy household love.
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