L. M.

182. ADDISON.

God our Shepherd. Psalm 23.
1 The Lord my pasture shall prepare,

And feed me with a shepherd's care ;
His presence shall my wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful eye:
My noonday walks he shall attend,

And all my midnight hours defend. 2 When in the sultry glebe I faint,

Or on the thirsty mountain pant;
To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary, wandering steps he leads ;
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,

Amid the verdant landscape flow.
3 Though in a bare and rugged way,

Through devious, lonely wilds I stray,
Thy bounty shall my pains beguile;
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden greens and herbage crowned,

And streams shall murmur all around. 4 Though in the paths of death I tread,

With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill;
For thou, O Lord! art with me still ;
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.

78. M. 183. MERRICK.

God our Shepherd. Psalm 23.
i Lo, my Shepherd's hand divine !

Want shall never more be mine:
In a pasture fair and large
He shall feed his happy charge.

3

2 When I faint with summer's heat,

He shall lead my weary feet
To the streams that still and slow
Through the verdant meadows flow.
He

my soul anew shall frame,
And, his mercy to proclaim,
When through devious paths I stray,

Teach my steps the better way.
4 Thou my plenteous board hast spread;

Thou with oil refreshed my head :
Filled by thee my cup o'erflows;

For thy love no limit knows.
5 Constant, to my latest end,

Thou my footsteps shalt attend,
And shalt bid thy hallowed dome
Yield me an eternal home.

11s. M. 184. MONTGOMERY.

God our Shepherd. Psalm 23. i The Lord is my shepherd, no want shall I know,

I feed in green pastures, safe folded I rest;
He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow,
Restores me when wandering, redeems when op-

pressed. 2 Through the valley and shadow of death though

I stray, Since thou art my guardian, no evil I fear; Thy rod shall defend me, thy staff be my stay;

No harm can befall, with my Comforter near. 3 In the midst of affliction my table is spread;

With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o'er;
With perfume and oil thou anointest my head;
O what shall I ask of thy providence more?

4 Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God'
Still follow my steps, till I meet thee above;
I seek, by the path which my forefathers trod,
Through the land of their sojourn, thy kingdom

of love.

C. M. 185. STERNHOLD.

God our Shepherd. Psalm 23.
i My Shepherd is the living Lord,

I therefore nothing need;
In pastures fair, near pleasant streams,

He setteth me to feed.

2 He shall convert and glad my soul,

And bring my mind in frame
To walk in paths of righteousness,

For his most holy name.

3 Yea, though I walk the vale of death,

Yet will I fear no ill ;
Thy rod and staff they comfort me,

And thou art with me still.

4 And, in the presence of my foes,

My table thou shalt spread;
Thou wilt fill full my cup, and thou

Anointed hast my head.

5 Through all my life thy favor is

So frankly shown to me,
That in thy house for evermore

My dwelling-place shall be.

132

C. M.

186. HEGINBOTHAM. He crowneth us with his Tender Mercies. i Father of mercies! God of love!

My Father and my God!
I'll sing the honors of thy name,

And spread thy praise abroad. 2 In every period of my life

Thy thoughts of love appear; Thy mercies gild each transient scene,

And crown each lengthening year. 3 In all these mercies may my soul

A Father's bounty see;
Nor let the gifts thy grace bestows

Estrange my heart from thee.
Teach me, in times of deep distress,

To own thy hand, O God!
And in submissive silence bear

The lessons of thy rod.
5 In every changing state of life,

Each bright, each gloomy scene, Give me a meek and humble mind,

Still equal and serene. 6 Then will I close my eyes in death,

Free from distressing fear; For death itself is life, my God!

If thou art with me there.

4

L. M.

187.

COLLETT.
Paternal Providence of God.

1 Through all the various shifting scene

Of life's mistaken ill or good,

Thy hand, () God! conducts, unseen,
The beautiful vicissitude.

2 Thou givest with paternal care, • Howe'er unjustly we complain, To all their necessary share

Of joy and sorrow, health and pain.
3 All things on earth, and all in heaven,

On thine eternal will depend;
And all for greater good were given,
Would man pursue the appointed end.

4 Be this my

care! - to all beside Indifferent let my wishes be; Passion be calm, and dumb be pride, And fixed my soul, great God! on thee.

C. M. 188. DODDRIDGE.

“My times are in thy hand.” 1 To thee, my God! my days are known;

My soul enjoys the thought; My actions all before thy face,

Nor are my faults forgot.

2 Each secret breath devotion vents

Is vocal to thine ear;
And all my walks of daily life

Before thine eye appear.

3 The vacant hour, the active scene,

Thy mercy shall approve; And every pang of sympathy, And every care of love.