A Song of Praise for Creation

THou wast, O God: and thou wast Blest
Before the World begun;
Of thine Eternity possest,
Before Time's Glass did Run.
Thou needest none thy Praise to Sing,
As if thy Joy could Fade.
Could'st thou have needed any thing,
Thou could'st have nothing made.

Great and Good God, it pleased Thee
Thy God-head to declare;
And what thy Goodness did decree,
Thy Greatness did prepare:
Thou spak'st, and Heaven and Earth Appear'd,
And Answer'd to thy Call;
As if their Makers Voice they heard,
Which is the Creatures ALL.

Thou spak'st the Word, most mighty Lord,
Thy Word went forth with Speed,
Thy Will, O Lord, it was thy Word.
Thy Word it was thy Deed:
Thou brought'st forth Adam from the Ground,
And Eve out of his Side;
Thy Blessings made the Earth abound,
With these Two multiply'd.

Those three great Leaves, Heav'n, Sea & Land,
Thy Name in Figures shew;
Bruites feel the Bounty of thy Hand,
But I my Maker know.
Should not I here thy Servant be,
Whose Creatures serve me here?
My Lord, whom should I fear but Thee,
Who am thy Creatures Fear?

To whom, Lord, should I Sing but thee,
The Maker of my Tongue!
Lo! other Lords would Seize on Me,
But I to thee belong:
As Waters haste unto their Sea,
And Earth unto its Earth;
So let my Soul return to Thee,
From whom it had its Birth.

But ah! I'am fallen in the Night,
And cannot come to thee.
Yet speak the Word, Let there be Light;
It shall Enlighten me:
And let thy Word, most Mighty Lord,
Thy Fallen Creature raise,
O make me o're again, and I
Shall Sing my Makers praise.