2 Good, when he gives-supremely good,
Nor less when he denies;
Ev'n crosses, from his sovereign hand,
Are blessings in disguise.
3 Why should we doubt a Father's love,
So constant and so kind?
To his unerring, gracious will
Be every wish resigned.
4 In thy fair book of life divine,
My God, inscribe my name;
There let it fill some humble place
Beneath my Lord the Lamb!
C. M.
255
Faith prevailing in Trouble.
WHEN languor and disease invade
This trembling house of clay,
"Tis sweet to look beyond my pain,
And long to fly away :-
:
2 Sweet to look inward, and attend
The whispers of his love;
Sweet to look upward, to the place
Where Jesus pleads above:-
3 Sweet to look back, and see my name
In life's fair book set down;
Sweet to look forward, and behold
Eternal joys my own:-
4 Sweet on his faithfulness to rest,
Whose love can never end;
Sweet on the covenant of his grace
For all things to depend:-
5 Sweet, in the confidence of faith, To trust his firm decrees;
Sweet to lie passive in his hands,
And know no will but his.
If such the sweetness of the stream,
What must the fountain be,
Where saints and angels draw their bliss,
O Lord, direct from thee!
256
C. M.
Contentment.
FATHER, whate'er of earthly bliss
Thy sovereign will denies,
Accepted at thy throne of grace
Let this petition rise :-
2 'Give me a calm, a thankful heart,
From every murmur free
;
The blessings of thy grace impart,
And make me live to thee.
3 Oh let the hope that thou art mine,
My life and death attend-
Thy presence through my journey shine,
And crown my journey's end.'
S. M.
257
Casting our Cares on God.
HOW gentle God's commands!
How kind his precepts are!
Come, cast your burdens on the Lord,
And trust his constant care.
2 His bounty will provide;
His saints securely dwell;
That hand which bears creation up,
Shall guard his children well.
3 Why should this anxious load
Press down your weary mind?
Oh, seek your heavenly Father's throne, And peace and comfort find. 4 His goodness stands approved, Unchanged from day to day; I'll drop my burden at his feet, And bear a song away.
8s & 7s.
258
Resignation and Contentment.
LET thy grace, Lord, make me lowly;
Humble all my swelling pride:
Fallen, guilty, and unholy,
Greatness from my eyes I'll hide :
2 I'll forbid my vain aspiring,
Nor at earthly honors aim;
No ambitious heights desiring,
Far above my humble claim.
3 Weaned from earth's vexatious pleasures,
In thy love I'll seek for mine;
Placed in heaven my nobler treasures,
Earth I quietly resign.
4 Israel, thus the world despising,
On the Lord alone rely;
Then, from him thy joys arising,
Like himself shall never die.
L. M.
259
Humbly waiting on God.
WAIT, O my soul, thy Maker's will; Tumultuous passions, all be still! Nor let a murmuring thought ariseHis ways are just-his counsels wise. 2 He in the thickest darkness dwells, Performs his work-the cause conceals:
But, though his methods are unknown,
Judgment and truth support his throne.
3 Wait then, my soul-submissive wait,
Prostrate before his awful seat:
Amid the terrors of his rod,
Still trust a wise and gracious God.
C. M.
260
Bearing Shame for Christ.
DIDST thou, dear Saviour, suffer shame, And bear the cross for me?
And shall I fear to own thy name,
Or thy disciple be?
2 Inspire my soul with life divine,
And make me truly bold;
Let knowledge, faith, and meekness shine,
Nor love, nor zeal grow cold.
3 Let mockers scoff-the world defame,
And treat me with disdain;
Still may I glory in thy name,
And count reproach my gain. 4 To thee I cheerfully submit,
And all my powers resign;
Let wisdom point out what is fit,
And I'll no more repine.
C. M.
261
Sincerity.
AM I an Israelite indeed,
Without a false disguise?
Have I renounced my sins, and left
My refuges of lies?
2 Say, does my heart unchanged remain? Or is it formed anew?
What is the rule by which I walk,
The object I pursue?
3 Cause me, O God of truth and grace, My real state to know!
If I am wrong-oh set me right!
If right-preserve me so!
262
C. M.
Self-abhorrence.
APPEAR, great God, appear to me,
That, by myself abhorred,
Ashamed I may forever be
Before my glorious Lord:
2 That sight alone can pride abase,
Can force me to submit,
Which makes archangels vail their face,
And tremble at thy feet!
C. M.
263
Chiding ourselves for spiritual Sloth.
MY drowsy powers! why sleep ye so?
Awake, my sluggish soul!
Nothing has half thy work to do,
Yet nothing's half so dull.
2 We, for whom God the Son came down And labored for our good
How careless to secure that crown
He purchased with his blood!
3 Lord, shall we lie so sluggish still,
And never act our parts?—
Come, holy Dove, from th' heavenly hill,
And melt our frozen hearts.
4 Give us with active zeal to move, With vigorous souls to rise;
|