part I.--The Wilderness.

Thank and praise Jehovah's name

For his mercies firm and sure,

From eternity the same,

To eternity endure.

Let the ransom'd thus rejoice,

Gather'd out of every land;

As the people of his choice,

Pluck'd from the destroyer's hand.

In the wilderness astray,

Hither, thither, while they roam,

Hungry, fainting by the way,

Far from refuge, shelter, home;

Then unto the Lord they cry;

He inclines a gracious ear,

Sends deliverance from on high,

Rescues them from all their fear.

To a pleasant land He brings,

Where the vine and olive grow,

Where from flowery hills the springs

Through luxuriant valleys flow.

O that men would praise the Lord,

For His goodness to their race;

For the wonders of His word,

And the riches of His grace!

part II.--From Captivity.

They that mourn in dungeon-gloom,

Bound in iron and despair,

Sentenced to a heavier doom

Than the pangs they suffer there;--

Foes and rebels once to God,

They disdain'd His high control;

Now they feel His fiery rod,

Striking terrors through their soul.

Wrung with agony, they fall

To the dust, and, gazing round,

Call for help;--in vain they call;

Help, nor hope, nor friend are found.

Then unto the Lord they cry;

He inclines a gracious ear,

Sends deliverance from on high,

Rescues them from all their fear.

He restores their forfeit breath,

Breaks in twain the gates of brass;

From the bands and grasp of death,

Forth to liberty they pass.

O that men would praise the Lord,

For his goodness to their race,

For the wonders of His word,

And the riches of His grace!

part III. From Malignant Disease.

Sinners, for transgression, see

Sharp disease their youth consume,

And their beauty, like a tree,

Withering on an early tomb.

Food is loathsome to their taste,

And the eye revolts from light;

All their joys to ruin haste,

As the sunset into night.

Then unto the Lord they cry;

He inclines a gracious ear,

Sends deliverance from on high,

Rescues them from all their fear.

He with health renews their frame,

Lengthens out their number'd days,

Let them glorify His name

With the sacrifice of praise.

O that men would praise the Lord,

For his goodness to their race,

For the wonders of His word,

And the riches of His grace!

part IV. Perils on the Deep.

They that toil upon the deep,

And, in vessels light and frail,

O'er the mighty waters sweep,

With the billow and the gale,--

Mark what wonders God performs,

When He speaks, and, unconfined,

Rush to battle all His storms,

In the chariots of the wind.

Up to heaven their bark is whirl'd

On the mountain of the wave,

Down as suddenly 'tis hurl'd

To th' abysses of the grave.

To and fro they reel and roll,

As intoxicate with wine;

Terrors paralyze their soul,

Helm they quit, and hope resign.

Then unto the Lord they cry;

He inclines a gracious ear,

Sends deliverance from on high,

Rescues them from all their fear.

Calm and smooth the surges flow,

And where deadly lightning ran,

God's own reconciling bow

Metes the ocean with a span.

O that men would praise the Lord,

For His goodness to their race,

For the wonders of His word,

And the riches of His grace!