'Tis man,-who to himself supplies
Best proof that thou art good and wise,-
Who best should sing thy praises.

4 Now pay thine honors to his name,
My soul, his glory telling:
Thy Father and thy God proclaim,
The world's glad anthem swelling :
Let all our race, with one accord,

Love, trust, and serve our common Lord :
Who can refuse to serve him!

63

1

GREAT God! what hosts of angels stand

shining ranks at thy right hand,
Array'd in robes of dazzling light,
With pinions stretch'd for distant flight!
2 Immortal fires! seraphic flames!

Who can recount their various names?
In strength and beauty they excel;
For near the throne of God they dwell.
3 How eagerly they wish to know
The duties he would have them do:
What joy their active spirits feel,
To execute their Sov'reign's will!
4 Hither, at his command, they fly
To guard the beds on which we lie;
To shield our persons night and day,
And scatter all our fears away.

5 Send, O my God, some angel down,
(Though to a mortal eye unknown,)
To guide and guard my doubtful way
Up to the realms of endless day.

64

The Soul.

C. M

1 WHAT is the thing of greatest price,

The whole creation round?

That which was lost in Paradise,

That which in Christ is found:

2 The soul of man-Jehovah's breath,
That keeps two worlds at strife;
Hell moves beneath to work its death;
Heaven stoops to give it life.

3 God, to redeem it, did not spare
His well-beloved Son :

Jesus, to save it, deign'd to bear
The sins of all in one.

4 And is this treasure borne below,
In earthen vessels frail?

Can none its utmost value know,
Till flesh and spirit fail?

5 Then let us gather round the cross,
That knowledge to obtain;
Not by the soul's eternal loss,
But everlasting gain.

65

1

PROVIDENCE OF GOD.

Volume of Divine Providence.

ET the whole race of creatures lie
Abas'd before the Lord!

Whate'er his pow'rful hand has form'd,
He governs with a word.

2 Ten thousand ages ere the skies
Were into motion brought,

All the long years and worlds to come
Stood present to his thought.

3 There's not a sparrow or a worm
O'erlook'd in his decrees;
He raises monarchs to a throne,
Or sinks with equal ease.

4 If light attend the course I go,
'Tis he provides the rays;
And 'tis his hand that hides the sun,
If darkness cloud my days.

C. M.

5 Trusting his wisdom and his love,
I would not wish to know
What in the book of his decrees
Awaits me here below.

6 Be this alone my fervent pray'r,
Whate'er my lot shall be,

Or joys, or sorrows, may they form
My soul for heav'n and thee!

66

God's dispensations merciful.

1 THE Lord, how fearful is his name!

How wide is his command!

Nature, with all her moving frame,
Rests on his mighty hand.

2 Immortal glory forms his throne,
And light his awful robe,
Whilst, with a smile or with a frown,
He manages the globe.

3 Adoring angels round him fall,
In all their shining forms;

His sov'reign eye looks o'er them all,
And pities mortal worms.*

4 Now, let the Lord for ever reign,
And sway us as he will;

Sick or in health, in ease or pain,
We are his fav'rites still.

67

1

God provides for all.

C. M.

L. M.

REATEST of beings, source of life,
Sov'reign of air, and earth, and sea!
All nature feels thy pow'r; but man
A grateful tribute pays to thee.

2 Subject to wants, to thee he looks,

And from thy goodness seeks supplies; And when, oppress'd with guilt, he mourns Thy mercy lifts him to the skies.

3 Children, whose little minds, unform'd, Ne'er raised a tender thought to heav'n; And men, whom reason lifts to God,

Though oft by passion downward driv'n ;*
4 All, great Creator! all are thine;
Áll feel thy providential care;
And, through each varying scene of life,
Alike thy constant pity share.

5 And, whether grief oppress the heart,
Or whether joy elate the breast,
Or life still keep its little course,
Or death invite the heart to rest:
6 All are thy messengers, and all

Thy sacred pleasure, Lord, obey;
And all are training man to dwell
Nearer to bliss, and nearer thee.

68

1

God's appointments wise and good.

L. M.

THROUGH all the various shifting scene
Of life's mistaken ill or good,

Thy hand, O 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 Trust we to youth, or friends, or pow'r?
Fix we on this terrestrial ball?
When most secure, the coming hour,
If thou see fit, may blast them all.

4 Thy pow'rful consolations cheer;

Thy smiles suppress the deep-fetch'd sigh; Thy hand can dry the trickling tear, That secret wets the widow's eye.

5 All things on earth, and all in heav'n On thine eternal will depend;

And all for greater good were giv'n,
Would man pursue th' appointed end.
6 Be this my care;-To all beside,
Indiff'rent let my wishes be.
Passion be calm, abas'd be pride,

69

1

And fix'd my soul, great God! on thee.

God's ways incomprehensible.

GOD moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform,

He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

2 Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,

He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sov'reign will.

3 Ye fearful saints! fresh courage take:
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and will break
In blessings on your head.

4 Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

5 His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding ev'ry hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow'r.

6 Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain.
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

C. M.

70+ Hope in God's mercy. P. M. 8.7.8.7.8.8.7. FROM deep distress to thee I pray;

1

God, hear my entreaty!

Turn not thy face from me away,
But show thy tender pity: