4 Then let his word support the soul,
And ev'ry pain and grief controul;
And faith each rising passion tell,
That Gon, our GoD, doth all things well.
Consolations of Religion in Affliction.
WHEN sorrow sinks my spirits down,
And grief o'erwhelms my troubl'd mind,
Faith cries, look up to God alone,
A refuge thou in him shalt find:
My soul obeys the sacred word,
And casts her care upon the LORD.
2 What though affliction's shades surround
My path, yet GCD is wise and just ;
And oft my fainting soul has found
The promise true in which I trust;
Shall I then doubt his sacred word?
No-let me humbly trust the LORD.
3 'Tis in the hour of deep distress,
That we religion's comfort prove;
The chastu'ing hand we feel and bless
Of God that scourges us in love;
"Though nature sinks beneath the rod,
Yet faith reposes still in Gov.
4 It is the LORD that strikes the blow;
Let ev'ry murmiring thought be still:
Oft has he made my cup o'erflow,
And shall I dare dispute his will!
For ever be the thought abhorr'd:
My soul still wait thou on the LORD.
5 Wait, till he bid thy sorrows cease,
Till he thy ev'ry care remove;
And though my troubles fast increase,
Thou need'st not doubt thy Father's love:
Though he delay, yet trust his word;
For true and faithful is the LORD.
6 Yes, Israel's GOD was never known To leave his children in distress; Merey and truth surround his throne,
His judgments all are righteousness;
Still shail my soul this truth accord
I will for ever trust the LORD.
Trust in God under Affliction.
WHY is my heart with grief oppress'd?
Can all the pains I feel or fear,
Make thee, my soul! forget thy rest,
Forget that God, thy Gon is near?
2 Mortality's unnumber'd ills
Are all beneath his sov'reign hand ;
Each pain which this frail body feels,
Attends obedient his command,
3 LORD! form my temper to thy will:
If thou my faith and patience prove,
May ev'ry painful stroke fulfil
Thy purposes of faithful love.
4 O may this weak, this fainting mind,
A father's hand adoring see;
Confess thee just, and wise, and kind,
And trust thy word, and cleave to thee!
Trust in God ander Afliction.
1 GOD! the cov'nant of thy love
Abides for ever sure;
And in its matchless grace, we feel
Our happiness secure.
2 What though our house be not with thee As nature could desire?
To nobler joys than nature gives,
Thy servants shall aspire,
3 Since thou, the everlasting God,
Our Father art become,
Our Guide, our Guardian and our Friend,
And heaven our final home,
4 We welcome all thy sovereign will,
For all that will is love;
And when we know not what thou dost,
We wait the light above.
5 Thy mercy, in the darkest gloom,
Shall heav'nly rays impart;
And when our eye-lids close in death,
Shali cheer our trembling heart.
Benefit of Afflictions and Support under them.
1 CONSIDER all my sorrows, LoRD!
And thy deliverance send :
My soul for thy salvation faints -
When will my troubles end?
2 Yet I have found 'tis good for me
To hear my father's rod;
Afflictions make me learn thy law,
And live upon my GoD.
3 This is the comfort I enjoy,
When new distress begins,
I read thy word, I run thy way,
And hate my former sins.
4 Had not thy word been my delight,
When earthly jovs were fled,
My heart oppress'd with sorrow's weight,
Had sunk among the dead.
5 I know thy judgments, LORD! are right,
Though they may seem severe;
The sharpest suff'rings I endure,
Flow from thy faithful care.
Before 1 knew thy chast'ning rod.
My feet were apt to stray;
But now I learn to keep thy word,
Nor wander from thy way.
The unsearchable Decrees of Providence.
ORD! how mysterious are thy ways!
Lowblind mysterio mean our praise!
Thy steps can mortal eyes explore? 'Tis ours to wander and adore.
2 Great GOD! I would not ask to see
What in futurity shall be:
If light and bliss attend my days,
Then let my future hours be praise.
3 Are darkness and distress my share?
Still let me trust thy guardian care;
Enough for me, if love divine
At length through every cloud shall shine.
4 Yet this my soul desires to know,-
Be this my only wish below,-
That I am thine; the great request
Grapt, bounteous GoD! and I am bless'd.
Submission to the Divine Disposals.
LORD! my best desires fulfil,
And help me to resign
Life, health, and comfort to thy will,
And make thy pleasure mine.
2 Why should I shrink at thy command
Whose love forbids my fears;
Or tremble at that gracious hand
Which wipes away my tears?
3 No, let me rather freely yield
What most I prize to thee,
Who never hast a good withheld,
Or wilt withhold, from me.
4 Wisdom and mercy guide my way;
Shall I resist them both,
Short-sighted creature of a day,
And crush'd before the moth !
5 But ah! my heart within me cries, Still bind me to thy sway;
Else the next cloud which veils the skies,
Drives all these thoughts away.
Trust in God in Times of Distress.
SHOULD famine o'er the mourning field
Extend her desolating reign;
Nor spring her blooming beauties 'yield,
Nor autumn swell the fruitful grain :`
2 Should lowing herds and bleating sheep,
Around their famish'd master die :
And hope itseif despairing weep,
While life deplores its lost supply:
3 Amid the dark, the deathful scene,
If I can say. the Lord is mine,'
The joy shall triumph o'er the pain,
And glory dawn, though life decline.
4 The Gon of my salvation lives;
My nobler life he will sustain ;
His word immortal vigour gives,
Nor shall my glorious hopes be vain.
5 Thy presence, LORD! can cheer my heart, Though every earthly comfort die; Thy smile can bid my pains depart, And raise my sacred pleasures high. 6 Oh let me hear thy blissful voice, Inspiring life and joys divine! The barren desert shall rejoice ;'Tis paradise, if thou art mine.
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