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.
Desires after Submission to the Divine Will.
PARENT of nature! Power divine!
Whatever lives and moves is thine :
Angels from thee their being drew,
And man can boast thine offspring too.
The bright resplendent orbs above,
That round the earth incessant move,
The orders of thy voice obey,
And roll where thou point'st out the way.
May I, through life's perplexing road,
Pursue the path mark'd out by God:
With cheerful resignation go
That path, though rough and thorny too.
If sickness, poverty, and pains,
Be here my lot-'tis God ordains :
Be still, my soul! and grace prevent
All impious, fruitless discontent!
Though sorrows should on sorrows fall,
Yet would I see thine hand in all;
And though frail nature sometimes groan,
A Father's hand I still would own.
From virtue's paths ne'er let me stray,
To tread the broad, though flowery way;
But still pursue that narrow road,
Which leads to happiness and God,
The Ways of the Righteous known to God.
To thee, O God, my days are known:
How solemn, Lord, the thought!
My actions all before thee lie,
Nor are my wants forgot.
Each secret wish devotion breathes,
Is vocal to thine ear;
And all my walks of daily life
Before thine eye appear.
The vacant hour, the active scene,
Thy mercy shall approve;
And every pang of sympathy,
And every care of love.
Each golden hour of beaming light
Is gilded by thy rays;
And dark affliction's midnight gloom
A present God surveys.
Full in thy view through life I pass,
And in thy view I die;
And, when each mortal bond is broke,
Shall find my God is nigh.
HEATHENS to senseless idols haste;
They worship wood and stone;
But my delightful lot is cast
Where the true God is known.
His hand provides my constant food,
He fills my daily cup;
Much am I pleas'd with present good,
But more rejoice in hope.
God is my portion and my joy;
His counsels are my light;
He gives me kind advice by day,
And guards my head by night.
My soul would all her thoughts approve
To his all-seeing eye;
Nor death nor sin my hope shall move,
While such a Friend is nigh.
'God is Love.'-1 John iv. 16.
GOD is love his mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove;
Bliss he wakes, and woe he lightens ;
God is wisdom, God is love.
Chance and change are busy ever;
Man decays and ages move;
But his mercy waneth never :
God is wisdom, God is love.
E'en the hour that darkest seemeth,
Will his changeless goodness prove;
From the gloom his brightness streameth:
God is wisdom, God is love.
He with earthly cares entwineth
Hope and comfort from above;
Every where his glory shineth :
God is wisdom, God is love.
The Loving-Kindness of our God.
FATHER! to thy kind love we owe
All that is fair and good below:
And when to heaven our thoughts we raise,
Thy love demands our highest praise.
Thy promise, truth eternal guides;
And mercy o'er each act presides;
Thy grace the fainting spirit cheers,
And checks our griefs and calms our fears.
Patient with headstrong guilt to bear;
Slow to avenge, and kind to spare:
Listening to prayer, and reconcil'd
Full quickly to thine erring child.
In woe's dark hour our kindest stay!
Sole trust when life shall pass away!
Giver of hopes that light the gloom
Of death, and consecrate the tomb!
Thee will we bless, O God our King,
Nor cease thy gracious ways to sing:
Grant us to hymn thy boundless love
In realms of perfect bliss above.
The constant Offering of Praise.-Ps. cxliv.
My God! my King! thy various praise
Shall fill the remnant of my days:
Thy grace employ my humble tongue,
Till death and glory raise the song.
The wings of every hour shall bear
Some thankful tribute to thine ear;
And every setting sun shall see
New works of duty done for thee.
Thy truth and justice I'll proclaim;
Thy bounty flows an endless stream;
Thy mercy swift, thine anger slow,
But dreadful to the stubborn foe.
Let every age and nation raise
The long succession of thy praise;
And unborn ages make my song
The blest employment of their tongue.
But who can speak thy wondrous deeds?
Thy greatness all our thoughts exceeds;
Vast and unsearchable thy ways!
Vast and immortal be thy praise !
My God! permit my tongue This joy, to call thee mine; And let my earnest cries prevail, To taste thy love divine.
For life without thy love
No relish can afford;
No joy can be compar'd with this,
To serve and please the Lord.
Since thou hast been my help,
To thee my spirit flies;
And on thy watchful providence
My cheerful hope relies.
The shadow of thy wings
My soul in safety keeps :
I'll follow where my Father leads,
And he'll support my steps.
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