Imatges de pàgina
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336

S. M.

Faith prevailing in Trouble.

1 IF, through unruffled seas,

Toward heaven we calmly sail,
With grateful hearts, O God, to thee,
We'll own the fostering gale.

2 But should the surges rise,
And rest delay to come,

Blest be the sorrow-kind the storm,
Which drives us nearer home.

3 Soon shall our doubts and fears
All yield to thy control:
Thy tender mercies shall illume
The midnight of the soul.

4 Teach us, in every state,

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To make thy will our own;
And when the joys of sense depart
To live by faith alone.

Bethany

C. M. Westford. Eastport. Princeton.

mp 1 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.

6 If such the sweetness of the stream,
What must the fountain be,

Where saints and angels draw their bliss,
O Lord, direct from thee!

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A submissive and docile Spirit.

1 THOU boundless source of every good!
Our best desires fulfil:

Help us t'adore thy wondrous grace,
And mark thy sovereign will.

2 In all thy mercies may our souls
Thy bounteous goodness see;
Nor let the gifts thy grace imparts
Estrange our hearts from thee.

3 Teach us, in time of deep distress,
To own thy hand, O God!
And in submissive silence learn
The lessons of thy rod.

4 In every changing scene of life,
Whate'er that scene may be,
Give us a meek and humble mind,
A mind at peace with thee.

5 Do thou direct our steps aright,
Help us thy name to fear;

Oh give us grace to watch and pray,
And strength to persevere.

6 Then may we close our eyes in death,
Free from distracting care;

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For death is life-and labor rest.
If thou art with us there.

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1 FATHER, whate'er of earthly bliss
Thy sovereign will denies,
Accepted at thy throne of grace
Let this petition rise :—

mp 2 'Give me a calm, a thankful heart,
From every murmur free;

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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.'

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God's Covenant a Security in Trouble.

1 MY God, the covenant of thy love
Abides forever sure;

And in its boundless grace I feel
My happiness secure.

2 Since thou, the everlasting God,
My Father art become;

My Saviour my almighty Friend,
And heaven my final home ;-
3 I welcome all thy sovereign will,
For all that will is love;

And when thy way, great God, is dark,
I wait thy light above.

4 Thy covenant, in my dying hour,
Shall dwell upon my tongue,

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And when I wake, shall still employ
My everlasting song.

S. M.

Casting our Cares on God.

Haverhill. Dover

1 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.

342

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Humbly waiting on God.

1 AND shall I sit alone,

Oppressed with grief and fear?

To God, my Father, make my moan,
And he refuse to hear?

2 If he my Father be,
His pity he will show;

From cruel bondage set me free,
And inward peace bestow.

3 If still he silence keep,

"Tis but my faith to try;

He knows and feels whene'er I weep,
And softens every sigh.

4 Then will I humbly wait,

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Nor once indulge despair;

My sins are great-but not so great
As his compassions are.

L. M.

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Ralston. Appleton.

1 WAIT, O my soul, thy Maker's will
Tumultuous passions, all be still!
Nor let a murmuring thought arise-
His 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:

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'Midst all the terrors of his rod,
Still trust a wise and gracious God.

C. M.

Colchester. Stamford.

Bearing Shame for Christ.

mf 1 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.

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1 AM I an Israelite indeed,
Without a false disguise?

Grafton. Dedham.

Have I renounced my sins, and left
My refuges of lies?

2 Say, does iny heart unchanged remain ?
Or is it formued 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!

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If I am wrong—oh set me right!

If right-preserve me so!

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1 SWEET peace of conscience, heavenly guest!
Come-fix thy mansion in my breast,
Dispel my doubts-my fears control,
And heal the anguish of my soul.
2 Come, smiling hope, and joy sincere,
Come, make your constant dwelling here;
Still let your presence cheer my heart,
Nor sin compel you to depart.

3 O God of hope, and peace divine,
Make thou these sacred pleasures mine!
Forgive my sins-my fears remove,
And fill my heart with joy and love.

347

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Chiding ourselves for spiritual Sloth.

1 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 Go to the ants!—for one poor grain
See how they toil and strive!

Yet we, who have a heaven t' obtain,
How negligent we live!

3 We, for whose sake all nature stands,
And stars their courses move-
We, for whose guard the angel-bands
Come flying from above-

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