3 When I survey the stars, And all their shining forms, Lord, what is man, that worthless thing, Akin to dust and worms?
4 Lord, what is worthless man, That thou shouldst love him so?
Next to thine angels he is plac"d, And lord of all below.
5 Thine honours crown his head, While beasts like slaves obey, And birds that cut the air with wings, And fish that cleave the sea.
6 How rich thy bounties are!
And wondrous are thy ways: Of dust and worms thy power can frame A monument of praise.
7 [Out of the mouths of babes And sucklings thou canst draw Surprising honours to thy name, And strike the world with awe.]
8 O Lord, our heavenly King, Thy name is all divine: Thy glories round the earth are spread, And o"er the heavens they shine.
Psalm 8:2. C. M.
Christ"s condescension and glorification; or, G.o.d made man.
1 O Lord, our Lord, how wondrous great Is thine exalted name!
The glories of thy heavenly state Let men and babes proclaim.
2 When I behold thy works on high, The moon that rules the night, And stars that well adorn the sky, Those moving worlds of light;
3 Lord, what is man, or all his race, Who dwells so far below, That thou shouldst visit him with grace, And love his nature so?
4 That thine eternal Son should bear To take a mortal form, Made lower than his angels are, To save a dying worm!
5 [Yet while he liv"d on earth unknown, And men would not adore, Th" obedient seas and fishes own His G.o.dhead and his power.
6 The waves lay spread beneath his feet; And fish, at his command, Bring their large shoals to Peter"s net, Bring tribute to his hand.
7 These lesser glories of the Son Shone thro" the fleshly cloud; Now we behold him on his throne, And men confess him G.o.d.]
8 Let him be crown"d with majesty, Who bow"d his head to death; And be his honours sounded high, By all things that have breath.
9 Jesus, our Lord, how wondrous great Is thine exalted name!
The glories of thy heavenly state Let the whole earth proclaim.
Psalm 8:3. 1 2. paraphrased.
First Part. L. M.
The Hosanna of the children; or, Infants praising G.o.d.
1 Almighty Ruler of the skies, Thro" the wide earth thy name is spread, And thine eternal glories rise O"er all the heavens thy hands have made.
2 To thee the voices of the young A monument of honour raise; And babes, with uninstructed tongue, Declare the wonders of thy praise.
3 Thy power a.s.sists their tender age To bring proud rebels to the ground, To still the bold blasphemer"s rage, And all their policies confound.
4 Children amidst thy temple throng To see their great Redeemer"s face; The Son of David is their song, And young hosannas fill the place.
3 The frowning scribes and angry priests In vain their impious cavils bring; Revenge sits silent in their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, While Jewish babes proclaim their king.
Psalm 8:4. 3 &c. paraphrased.
Second Part. L. M.
Adam and Christ, lords of the old and the new creation.
1 Lord, what was man, when made at first, Adam the offspring of the dust, That thou shouldst set him and his race But just below an angel"s place?
2 That thou shouldst raise his nature so And make him lord of all below; Make every beast and bird submit, And lay the fishes at his feet?
3 But O, what brighter glories wait To crown the second Adam"s state!
What honours shall thy Son adorn Who condescended to be born!
4 See him below his angels made, See him in dust amongst the dead, To save a ruin"d world from sin; But he shall reign with power divine.
5 The world to come, redeem"d from all The miseries that attend the fall, New made, and glorious, shall submit At our exalted Saviour"s feet.
Psalm 9:1. First Part.
Wrath and mercy from the judgment-seat.
1 With my whole heart I"ll raise my song, Thy wonders I"ll proclaim; Thou sov"reign judge of right and wrong Wilt put my foes to shame.
2 I"ll sing thy majesty and grace; My G.o.d prepares his throne To judge the world in righteousness And make his vengeance known.
3 Then shall the Lord a refuge prove For all the poor opprest, To save the people of his love, And give the weary rest.
4 The men, that know thy name will trust In thy abundant grace; For thou hast ne"er forsook the just, Who humbly seek thy face.
5 Sing praises to the righteous Lord, Who dwells on Zion"s hill, Who executes his threatening word, And doth his grace fulfil.
Psalm 9:2. 10. Second Part.
The wisdom and equity of providence.
1 When the great Judge, supreme and just, Shall once inquire for blood, The humble souls, that mourn in dust, Shall find a faithful G.o.d.
2 He from the dreadful gates of death Does his own children raise: In Zion"s gates, with cheerful breath, They sing their Father"s praise.
3 His foes shall fail with heedless feet Into the pit they made; And sinners perish in the net That their own hands had spread.
4 Thus by thy judgments, mighty G.o.d!
Are thy deep counsels known; When men of mischief are destroy"d, The snare must be their own.
PAUSE.
5 The wicked shall sink down to h.e.l.l; Thy wrath devour the lands That dare forget thee, or rebel Against thy known commands.