3 Our longing souls aloud would sing, 'Spring forth, celestial' fountain, spring; To a redundant river flow,
And cheer this thirsty land below.'
4 May this blest torrent near my side
Through all the desert gently glide;
Then, in Emmanuel's land above,
Spread to a sea of joy and love.
Seeking God's Blessing.
1 OUR Father, throned above the sky!
To thee our empty hands we spread;
Thy children at thy footstool lie,
And ask thy blessings on their head.
2 With cheerful hope and filial fear,
In that august and precious name
By thee ordained, we now draw near,
And would the promised blessing claim.
3 Does not an earthly parent hear
The cravings of his famished son?
Will he reject the filial prayer,
Or mock him with a cake of stone?
4 Our heavenly Father! how much more
Will thy divine compassion rise,
And open thine unbounded store
To satisfy thy children's cries!
5 Yes, we will ask, and seek, and press
For gracious audience, to thy seat;
Still hoping, waiting for success,
If persevering to entreat.
5 For Jesus in his faithful word
The patient supplicant has blessed;
And all thy saints, with one accord,
The prevalence of prayer attest.
1 My God, my Father! may I dare,-
I, all debased, with sin defiled,—
These awful, soothing names to join!
Am I thy creature, and thy child!
2 Art thou my Father!-then no more
My sins shall tempt me to despair;
My Father pities and forgives,
And hears a child's repentant prayer.
3 Art thou my Father!-let me strive
With all my powers to do thy will,
To make thy service all my care,
And all thy kind commands fulfil.
4 Art thou my Father!-then I know,
When pain, or wants, or griefs oppress,
They come but from a Father's hand,
That wounds to heal,-afflicts to bless.
5 Art thou my Father!-then, in doubt
And darkness when I grope my way,
Thy light shall shine upon my path,
And make my darkness like thy day.
6 My God, my Father!-I am vile,
Prone to forget thee, weak and blind;
Be thou my hope, my strength, my trust,
Hope of my heart, light of my mind,
1 SOVEREIGN of all the worlds on high'
O hear our humble claim;
Nor, while we own our numerous sins,
Disdain a Father's name.
2 Our Father, God! how sweet the sound!
How tender, and how dear!
Not all the harmony of heaven
Could so delight the ear.
3 Come, sacred Spirit, seal the name
On our expanding heart;
And show that in Jehovah's grace
We share a filial part.
4 Cheered by a signal so divine,
Unwavering we believe;
And Abba, Father,' humbly cry,
Nor can the sign deceive.
Cheerful Acquiescence in our Father's Will.
1 My Father!-cheering name!
may I call thee mine!
Give me with humble hope to claim
A portion so divine.
2 This can my fears control,
And bid my sorrows fly;
What real harm can reach my soul
Beneath my Father's eye!
3 Whate'er thy will denies,
I calmly would resign;
For thou art just, and good, and wise:
O bend
my will to thine!
4 Whate'er thy will ordains,
O give me strength to bear;
Still let me know a father reigns,
And trust a father's care.
5 If anguish rend this frame,
And life almost depart,
Is not thy mercy still the same
To cheer my drooping heart?
6 Thy ways are little known
To my weak erring sight;
Yet shall my soul, believing, own
That all thy ways are right.
7 My Father!-blissful name!
Above expression dear!
If thou accept my humble claim,
I bid adieu to fear.
1 My God! the covenant of thy love
Abides forever sure;
And in his matchless grace I feel
My happiness secure.
2 What though my house be not with thee As nature could desire?
To nobler joys than nature gives
Thy servants all aspire.
3 Since thou, the everlasting God,
My Father art become;
Jesus my Guardian and my Friend,
And heaven my final home;
4 I welcome all thy sovereign will,
For all that will is love;
And when I know not what thou dost,
I wait the light above.
5 Thy covenant the last accent claims
Of this poor faltering tongue;
And that shall the first notes employ
Of my celestial song.
1 THOU only Sovereign of my heart,
My refuge, my almighty Friend!
And can my soul from thee depart,
On whom alone my hopes depend?
2 Whither, ah! whither shall I go,
A wretched wanderer from my Lord?
Can this dark world of sin and woe
One glimpse of happiness afford?
3 Eternal life thy words impart-
On these my fainting spirit lives;
Here sweeter comforts cheer my heart
Than all the round of nature gives.
4 Let earth's alluring joys combine,—
While thou art near, in vain they call;
One smile, one blissful smile of thine,
My dearest Lord, outweighs them all.
|