ADDITIONAL HYMNS,

ADOPTED BY THE

GENERAL SYNOD

OF THE

REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH

IN NORTH AMERICA,

AT THEIR SESSION. JUNE, 1831,

AND AUTHORIZED TO BE USED

IN THE CHURCHES UNDER THEIR CARE.

459

"Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1831, by Isaac L. Kip, (on behalf of the General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church,) in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York."

EXTRACTS

From the Acts and Proceedings of the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church in North America.

SESSION, JUNE, 1830.

Resolved, That the Rev. Thomas De Witt, D. D., William M'Murray, D. D., Isaac Ferris, and the elders Peter D. Vroom, Jr., and John D. Keese, be a committee to select from the different collections now published, Hymns on a variety of subjects, to constitute the second Book of Hymns, to be added to those now in use in all future editions of our Psalm and Hymn Book, and that said committee report such selection to the next General Synod for their approbation.

IN SESSION, JUNE, 1831.

The committee appointed by the last General Synod, reported a selection of Hymns. Whereupon the following resolutions were adopted.

1. Resolved, That the said additional hymns reported by the Committee appointed by the General Synod in 1830, be accepted, ordered to be published as a second Book of Hymns, and authorized to be used by the churches in the same manner as the Psalms and Hymns now in use.

2. Resolved, That all future editions of the Psalm Book shall contain the Additional Hymns, together with the Canons of the Church, as soon as the Board of Direction of the Corporation shall be able to make the necessary arrangements with the Publisher.

3. Resolved, That a separate edition of the Additional Hymns be pub lished.

4. Resolved, That the Board of Direction of the Corporation be directed to take out separate copyrights for each of the books, and authorize their publication; and that they superintend the publication of the first edition of each book.

460

BOOK SECOND.

ADDITIONAL HYMNS.

1TH

PERFECTIONS OF GOD.

HYMN 1. L. M.

Creation Praising God.

HE spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heav'ns, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim.

2 The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's pow'r display,
And publishes to every land,
The work of an Almighty hand.

3 Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale;
And, nightly, to the list'ning earth,
Repeats the story of her birth;

4 Whilst all the stars that round her burn, And all the planets in their turn, Confirm the tidings as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole. 5 What though in solemn silence all Move round this dark terrestrial ball; What though no real voice nor sound Amidst their radiant orbs be found; 6 In reason's ear they all rejoice, And utter forth a glorious voice, For ever singing, as they shine, "The hand that made us is divine."

1

HYMN 2. C. M.

Sovereignty and Decrees of God.

KEEP silence-all created things,
And wait your Maker's nod:

My soul stands trembling while she sings The honours of her God.

2 Life, death, and hell, and worlds unknown, Hang on his firm decree;

He sits on no precarious throne,

Nor borrows leave TO BE.

3 Chain'd to his throne a volume lies,
With all the fates of men;
With ev'ry angel's form and size,
Drawn by th' eternal pen.

4 His providence unfolds the book,
And makes his counsels shine;
Each op'ning leaf, and ev'ry stroke,
Fulfils some deep design.

5 Here he exalts neglected worms,
To sceptres and a crown;
And there, the following page he turns,
And treads the monarch down.

6 Not Gabriel asks the reason why,
Nor God the reason gives;
Nor dares the fav'rite angel pry
Between the folded leaves.

7 My God, I would not long to see
My fate, with curious eyes;
What gloomy lines are writ for me,
Or what bright scenes may rise.

grace,

8 In thy fair book of life and
O may I find my name,
Recorded in some humble place,
Beneath my Lord-the Lamb.