64.

C.M.-"But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father." Isa. lxiv. 8.
1 OUR Father sits on yonder throne,
Amidst the hosts above;

He reigns throughout the world, alone,
He reigns, the God of love.

2 He knew us, when we knew him not,
Was with us, though unseen;
His favour came to us unsought,
His love has wondrous been.
3 He keeps us now, securely keeps,
(Whatever foe assails,)

With vigilance that never sleeps,
With power that never fails.

4 He gives us hope, that we shall be
Ere long with him above:

That we shall all his glory see,
And celebrate his love.

5 Then let us, while we dwell below,
Obey our Father's voice;
To all his dispensations bow,
And in his name rejoice.

6 How sweet to hear him say at last,
"Ye blessed children come;

"The days of banishment are past,
"And heaven is now your home."

65.

C.M.-Gratitude to God.

1 WHEN all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys;
Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.

2 O how shall words with equal warmth
The gratitude declare,

That glows within my ravished heart?
But thou canst read it there.

3 Thy providence my life sustain'd,
And all my wants redrest,
When in the silent womb I lay,
Or hung upon the breast.

4 To all my weak complaints and cries
Thy mercy lent an ear,

Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learnt,
To form themselves in prayer.

5 Unnumber'd comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestow'd,
Before my infant heart conceiv'd
From whom those comforts flow'd.

6 When in the slippery paths of youth
With heedless steps I ran,

Thine arm, unseen, convey'd me safe,
And led me up to man.

7 Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths, It gently clear'd my way,

And through the pleasing snares of vice,
More to be fear'd than they.

8 When worn with sickness, oft hast thou
With health renew'd my face;
And when in sins and sorrows sunk,
Revived my soul with grace.

9 Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss
Has made my cup run o'er,

And in a kind and faithful friend
Has doubled all my store.

10 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;

Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
That taste those gifts with joy.

11 Through every period of my life
Thy goodness I'll pursue;

And after death in distant worlds
The glorious theme renew.

12 When nature fails, and day and night Divide thy works no more,

My ever grateful heart, O Lord,
Thy mercy shall adore.

13 Through all eternity to thee
A joyful song I'll raise,
For, oh! eternity's too short
To utter all thy praise.

66.

S.M.-Trust in God.

1 COMMIT thou all thy griefs And ways into his hands,

2

3

To his sure truth and tender care

Who earth and heaven commands.
Who 'points the clouds their course,
Whom winds and seas obey,
He shall direct thy wandering feet,
He shall prepare thy way.

Thou on the Lord rely,

So safe shalt thou go on;

Fix on his work thy steadfast eye,
So shall thy work be done.
No profit canst thou gain

By self-consuming care;

To him commend thy cause, his ear

Attends the softest prayer.

Thine everlasting truth,

Father, thy ceaseless love,

Sees all thy children's wants, and knows

What best for each will prove.

And whatsoe'er thou will'st,

Thou dost, O King of kings;

What thine unerring wisdom chose,

Thy power to being brings.

4 Thou every where hast way,
And all things serve thy might;
Thy every act pure blessing is,
Thy path unsullied light.
When thou arisest, Lord,

What shall thy work withstand? When all thy children want, thou giv'st, Who, who shall stay thy hand.

67.

S.M.-SECOND PART.

1 GIVE to the winds thy fears;
Hope, and be undismay'd;

God hears thy sighs, and counts thy tears,
God shall lift up thy head.

Through waves, and clouds, and storms,
He gently clears thy way;
Wait thou his time; so shall this night
Soon end in joyous day.

2 Still heavy is thy heart?

3

Still sink thy spirits down?

Cast off the weight, let fear depart,
Bid every care be gone.

What, though thou rulest not?
Yet heaven, and earth, and hell
Proclaim, God sitteth on the throne,
And ruleth all things well!

Leave to his sovereign sway

To choose, and to command;

So shalt thou wondering own his way,

How wise, how strong his hand!
Far, far above thy thought

His counsel shall appear,

When fully he the work hath wrought
That caused thy needless fear.

6

Thou seest our weakness, Lord,
Our hearts are known to thee;
O, lift thou up the sinking hand,
Confirm the feeble knee!
Let us in life, in death,

Thy steadfast truth declare,
And publish, with our latest breath,
Thy love and guardian care.

68.

C.M.-The goodness which God has wrought and laid up for his people. Ps. xxxi. 19.

1 OUR souls with pleasing wonder view
The bounties of thy grace;

How much bestow'd; how much reserv'd
For them that seek thy face!

2 Thy liberal hand with worldly bliss
Öft makes their cup run o'er;
And in the covenant of thy love
They find diviner store.

3 Here mercy hides their numerous sins;
Here grace their souls renews;
Here thy own reconciled face
Doth heavenly beams diffuse.

4 But O! what treasures yet unknown
Are lodged in worlds to come!
If these the enjoyments of the way,
How happy is their home.

5 And what shall mortal worms reply?
Or how such goodness own?
But 'tis our joy that, Lord, to thee
Thy servants' hearts are known.

6 Thine eyes shall read those grateful thoughts No language can express:

Yet, when our liveliest thanks we pay,
Our debts do most increase.