Almighty Father! gracious Lord! Kind Guardian of my days! Thy mercies let my heart record In songs of grateful praise.
2 In life's first dawn, my tender frame Was thine indulgent care, Long ere I could pronounce thy name, Or breathe the infant prayer.
3 Each rolling year new favors brought From thine exhaustless store; But, ah! in vain my laboring thought Would count thy mercies o'er.
4 Still I adore thee, gracious Lord! For favors more divine-- That I have known thy sacred word. Where all thy glories shine.
5 Lord, when this mortal frame decays, And every weakness dies, Complete the wonders of thy grace, And raise me to the skies.
645 C. M. I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Psalm 145:1.
Long as I live I'll praise thy name, My King, my God of love; My work and joy shall be the same In the bright world above.
2 Great is the Lord, his power unknown, And let his praise be great: I'll sing the honors of thy throne, Thy work of grace repeat.
3 Thy grace shall dwell upon my tongue; And while my lips rejoice, The men that hear my sacred song, Shall join their cheerful voice.
4 Fathers to sons shall teach thy name, And children learn thy ways; Ages to come thy truth proclaim, And nations sound thy praise.
5 Thy glorious deeds of ancient date Shall through the world be known-- Thy arm of power, thy heavenly state With public splendor shown.
6 The world is managed by thy hands, Thy saints are ruled by love; And thy eternal kingdom stands, Though rocks and hills remove.
646 C. M. Unto him that loved us. Rev. 1:5.
To him that loved the sons of men And washed us in his blood, To royal honors raised our heads, And made us priests to God:
2 To him let every tongue be praise, And every heart be love; All grateful honors paid on earth, And nobler songs above.
3 Behold, on flying clouds he comes! His saints shall bless the day: While they that pierced him sadly mourn, In anguish and dismay.
4 Thou art the First and thou the Last; Time centers all in thee; Almighty Lord, who wast, and art, And evermore shalt be.
Let earthly minds the world pursue; It has no charms for me; Once I admired its trifles too, But grace has set me free.
2 As, by the light of opening day, The stars are all concealed; So earthly pleasures fade away, When Jesus is revealed.