392

C. M.

Retirement and Meditation.

FAR from the world, O Lord, I flee,
From strife and tumult far;

From scenes where Satan wages still
His most successful war.

2 The calm retreat-the silent shade,
With prayer and praise agree;
And seem, by thy sweet bounty, made
For those who follow thee.

3 There, if the Spirit touch the soul,
And grace her mean abode,
Oh! with what peace, and joy, and love,
She communes with her God!

4 Author and Guardian of my life,
Sweet Source of light divine,
And-all harmonious names in one-
My SAVIOUR-thou art mine!

5 What thanks I owe thee! and what love! A boundless, endless store!

[above, Thy praise shall sound through realms When time shall be no more.

MY God, permit me not to be
A stranger to myself and thee;
Amid a thousand thoughts I rove,
Forgetful of my highest love.

2 Why should my passions mix with earth,
And thus debase my heavenly birth?
Why should I cleave to things below,
And let my God, my Saviour, go?

3 Call me away from earth and sense; Thy sovereign word can draw me thence; I would obey the voice divine,

And all inferior joys resign.

4 Be earth, with all her scenes, withdrawn; Let noise and vanity be gone;

In secret silence of the mind,

My heaven-and there my God I find. 394

C. M.

WHILE thee I seek, protecting Power!
Be my vain wishes stilled;
And may this consecrated hour

With better hopes be filled.

2 Thy love the power of thought bestowed;
To thee my thoughts would soar:
Thy mercy o'er my life has flowed;
That mercy I adore.

3 In each event of life, how clear
Thy ruling hand I see!

Each blessing to my soul most dear,
Because conferred by thee.

4 In every joy that crowns my days,
In every pain I bear,

My heart shall find delight in praise,
Or seek relief in prayer.

5 When gladness wings my favored hour,
Thy love my thoughts shall fill;
Resigned, when storms of sorrow lower,
My soul shall meet thy will.

6 My lifted eye, without a tear,

The gathering storm shall see;

My steadfast heart shall know no fear;
That heart will rest on thee.

395

L. M.

Desiring the Presence of God.

MY God, I bow before thy feet; When shall my soul approach thy seat? When shall I see thy glorious face, With mingled majesty and grace? 2 How should I love thee, and adore, With hopes and joys unknown before! And bid this trifling world be gone, Nor tease my heart so near thy throne. 3 My soul should pour out all her cares, In flowing words, or flowing tears; Thy smiles would ease my sharpest pain, Nor should I seek my God in vain.

SHINE on our souls, eternal God,
With rays of mercy shine:
Oh let thy favor crown our days,
And all their round be thine.

2 With thee let every week begin;
With thee each day be spent;
To thee each fleeting hour be given,
Since each by thee is lent.

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

Till heaven refresh our weary souls
With everlasting peace.

397

S. M.

Communion with the Father and Christ.

OUR heavenly Father calls,

And Christ invites us near;

With both, our friendship shall be sweet,
And our communion dear.

2 God pities all our griefs:
He pardons every day;
Almighty to protect our souls,
And wise to guide our way.

3 How large his bounties are!
What various stores of good,
Diffused from our Redeemer's hand,
And purchased with his blood!

4 Jesus, our living head,

We bless thy faithful care;
Our advocate before the throne,
And our forerunner there.

5 Here fix, my roving heart!

Here wait, my warmest love!
Till this communion be complete
In nobler scenes above.

398

C. M.

Sins and Sorrows laid before God.

OH, could I find, from day to day,

A nearness to my God!

Then should my hours glide sweet away,
While leaning on his word.

2 Lord, I desire with thee to live
Anew from day to day;

In joys the world can never give,
Nor ever take away.

3 Blest Jesus, come, and rule my heart,
And make me wholly thine;

That I may never more depart,
Nor grieve thy love divine.

4 Thus, till my last, expiring breath,
Thy goodness I'll adore;

And when my frame dissolves in death,
My soul shall love thee more.

399

C. M.

Providence and Grace.

THANKS to my God for every gift
His bounteous hands bestow;
And thanks eternal for that love
Whence all those comforts flow.

2 Forever let my grateful heart
His boundless grace adore,
Which gives ten thousand blessings now,
And bids me hope for more.

3 Transporting hope! still on my soul
Let thy bright glories shine,
Till thou thyself art lost in joys
Eternal and divine.

The Fearful encouraged.

YE trembling souls, dismiss your fears,
Be mercy all your theme;
Mercy-which, like a river, flows
In one perpetual stream.

2 Fear not the powers of earth and hell-
Those powers will God restrain;
His arm shall all their rage repel,
And make their efforts vain.

3 Fear not the want of outward good-
For his he will provide;

Grant them supplies of daily food,
And give them heaven beside.