118. Awake, Each Saint, in Joyful Lays

L.M.
by S. Medley, 1785
1
Awake, each saint, in joyful lays,
 
To sing the great Redeemer’s praise;
 
He justly claims a song from thee:
 
His loving-kindness, oh how free!
“<<A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day.>> It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High. To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.” (Psalm 92:1-2)
2
He saw us ruined in the fall,
 
Yet loved us notwithstanding all;
 
He saved us from our lost estate:
 
His loving-kindness, oh how great!
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
“Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” (Psalm 36:5-7)
3
Though numerous hosts of mighty foes,
 
Though earth and hell our way oppose;
 
He safely leads His saints along:
 
His loving-kindness, oh how strong!
“Show thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.” (Psalm 17:7)
4
When trouble, like a gloomy cloud,
 
Has gathered thick, and thundered loud;
 
He with His church has always stood:
 
His loving-kindness, oh how good!
“<<A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.>> O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.” (Psalm 63:1-3)
5
Soon shall we mount and soar away
 
To the bright realms of endless day,
 
And sing with rapture and surprise
 
His loving-kindness in the skies.
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