4 Do thou thy gracious comfort give,
By which alone the soul may live,
And grant thy servants, Lord, we pray,
The bread of life from day to day.

344

C. M.

EXETER COL.

Imploring divine Protection.

1 LORD, through the dubious path of life
Thy feeble servant guide;
Supported by thy powerful arm,
My footsteps shall not slide.

2 O, may I ne'er, with empty pride,
Of wisdom make my boast!
My wisdom and my strength must come
From thee, the Lord of hosts.

3 To thee, O my unerring Guide,
I would myself resign;

In all my ways acknowledge thee,
And form my will by thine.

4 Thus shall each blessing of thy hand
Be doubly sweet to me;
And, in new griefs, I still shall have
A refuge, Lord, in thee.

345

C. M.

• DODDRIDGE.

Joy from the Presence of God.

1 SHINE on our souls, eternal God,
With rays of beauty shine;

O, let thy favor crown our days,
And all their round be thine.

2 Did we not raise our hands to thee,
Our hands might toil in vain ;
Small joy success itself could give,
If thou thy love restrain.

3 With thee let every week begin;
With thee each day be spent ;
For thee each fleeting hour improved,
Since each by thee is lent.

4 Thus cheer us through this desert road, Till all our labors cease,

And heaven refresh our weary souls
With everlasting peace.

346

S. M.

PATRICK

Holy Desires.

1 GOD, who is just and kind,

Will those who err instruct,
And to the paths of righteousness
Their wandering steps conduct.

2 The humble soul he guides;
Teaches the meek his way;
Kindness and truth he shows to all
Who his just laws obey.

3 Give me the tender heart

That mixes fear with love,
And lead me through whatever path
Thy wisdom shall approve.

4 O, ever keep my soul

From error, shame, and guilt;
Nor suffer the fair hope to fail,
Which on thy truth is built.

347

C. M.

J. Q. ADAMS.

Ps. 43.

1 SEND forth, O God, thy truth and light,
And let them lead me still,
Undaunted, in the paths of right,

Up to thy holy hill:

Then to thy altar will I spring,

And in my God rejoice,

And praise shall tune the trembling string,
And gratitude my voice.

2 O why, my soul, art thou cast down?
Within me why distressed?

Thy hopes the God of grace shall crown;
He yet shall make thee blessed;
To him, my never-failing Friend,
I bow, and kiss the rod;

To him shall thanks and praise ascend,
My Savior and my God.

348

L. M.

WATTS.

Safety in God. Ps. 46.

1 GOD is the refuge of his saints,

When storms of sharp distress invade ;
Ere we can offer our complaints,
Behold him present with his aid.

2 Let mountains from their seats be hurled
Down to the deep, and buried there,
Convulsions shake the solid world, -
Our faith shall never yield to fear.

3 Loud may the troubled ocean roar; In sacred peace our souls abide ; While every nation, every shore,

Trembles and dreads the swelling tide.

4 There is a stream whose gentle flow
Supplies the city of our God,

Life, love, and joy, still gliding through,
And watering our divine abode.

5 That sacred stream thine holy word,
That all our raging fear controls;
Sweet peace thy promises afford,

And give new strength to fainting souls.

6 Zion enjoys her Monarch's love,

Secure against a threatening hour; Nor can her firm foundations move,

Built on his truth, and armed with power.

349

7s M.

God our only Refuge.

C. WESLEY.

1 FATHER, refuge of my soul,
Let me to thy shelter fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high;
Hide me, O my Father, hide,
Till the storm of life be past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O, receive my soul at last!

2 Other refuge have I none;

Hangs my helpless soul on thee;
Leave, O leave me not alone;
Still support and comfort me ;

All my trust on thee is stayed;
All my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head

With the shadow of thy wing.

3 Plenteous grace with thee is found;
Cleanse me, Lord, from every sin;
Let the healing streams abound ;
Make and keep me pure within;
Thou of life the fountain art;
Freely let me take of thee;
Spring thou up within my heart;
Rise to all eternity.

WATTS.

350

S. M.

Adoption. 1 John iii. 1.

1 BEHOLD, what wondrous grace
The Father has bestowed
On sinners of a mortal race,

To call them sons of God!

2 Nor doth it yet appear

How great we must be made;
But, when we see our Savior here,
We shall be like our Head.

3 If in my Father's love

I share a filial part,

Send down thy Spirit like a dove
To rest upon my heart.

4 We would no longer lie

Like slaves beneath the throne;
My faith shall Abba, Father, cry,
And thou the kindred own.