Keep me from mine own undoing,
Help me turn to thee when tried;
Still my footsteps, Father, viewing,
Keep me ever at thy side!
1 THOU hidden love of God, whose height,
Whose depth unfathomed, no man knows
I see from far thy beauteous light;
Inly I sigh for thy repose;
My heart is pained; nor can it be
At rest, till it find rest in thee.
2 Thy secret voice invites me still
The sweetness of thy yoke to prove;'
And fain I would; but though my will
Seem fixed, yet wide my passions rove,
Yet hindrances strew all the way;
I aim at thee, yet from thee stray.
3 'T is mercy all, that thou hast brought
My mind to seek her peace in thee;
Yet while I seek, but find thee not,
No peace my wandering soul shall see.
O when shall all my wanderings end,
And all my steps to thee-ward tend?
4 Is there a thing beneath the sun
That strives with thee my heart to share?
O tear it thence, and reign alone,
The Lord of every motion there;
Then shall my heart from earth be free,
When it hath found repose in thee.
1 THOU hidden Source of calm repose,
Thou all-sufficient Love Divine,
My help and refuge from my foes,
Secure I am, if thou art mine!
And, lo! from sin, and grief, and shame
I hide me, Father, in thy name.
2 Father, my all in all thou art,
My rest in toil, my ease in pain;
The healing of my broken heart;
In strife, my peace; in loss, my gain;
My smile beneath the cold world's frown;
In shame, my glory and my crown ;-
3 In want, my plentiful supply;
In weakness, my almighty power;
In bonds, my perfect liberty;
My light in evil's darkest hour;
In grief, my joy unspeakable;
My life in death, my all in all.
"O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes."
1 O THAT the Lord would guide my ways To keep his statutes still!
O that my God would grant me grace
To know and do his will!
2 O send thy Spirit down to write
Thy law upon my heart!
Nor let my tongue indulge deceit,
Nor act the liar's part.
3 From vanity turn off mine eyes;
Let no corrupt design,
Nor covetous desires, arise
Within this soul of mine.
4 Order my footsteps by thy word,
And make my heart sincere ;
Let sin have no dominion, Lord,
But keep my conscience clear.
5 Make me to walk in thy commands, -
'T is a delightful road;
Nor let my head, or heart, or hands,
Offend against my God.
1 O LET my trembling soul be still,
While darkness veils this mortal eye,
And wait thy wise, thy holy will,
Wrapt yet in fears and mystery;
I cannot, Lord! thy purpose see;
Yet all is well, since ruled by thee.
When, mounted on thy clouded car,
Thou send'st thy darker spirits down,
I can discern thy light afar,
Thy light, sweet beaming through thy frown;
And, should I faint a moment, then
I think of thee, and smile again.
3 So, trusting in thy love, I tread The narrow path of duty on;
What though some cherished joys are fled? What though some flattering dreams are gone?
Yet purer, brighter joys remain :
Why should my spirit then complain?
1 QUIET, Lord, my froward heart;
Make me teachable and mild,
Upright, simple, free from art;
Make me as a little child;
From distrust and envy free,
Pleased with all that pleases thee.
2 What thou shalt to-day provide,
Let me as a child receive;
What to-morrow may betide,
Calmly to thy wisdom leave;
'T is enough that thou wilt care;
Why should I the burden bear?
3 As a little child relies
On a care beyond his own,
Knows he 's neither strong nor wise,
Fears to stir a step alone,-
Let me thus with thee abide,
As my Father, Guard, and Guide.
1 FATHER! When o'er our trembling hearts
Doubt's shadows gathering brood,
When faith in thee almost departs,
And gloomiest fears intrude;
Forsake us not, O God of grace,
But send those fears relief;
Grant us again to see thy face;
Lord, help our unbelief!
2 When sorrow comes, and joys are flown, And fondest hopes lie dead,
And blessings, long esteemed our own, Are now for ever fled,
When the bright promise of our spring Is but a withered leaf,
Lord, to thy truths still let us cling;
Help thou our unbelief!
3 And when the powers of nature fail
Upon the couch of pain,
Nor love nor friendship can avail
The spirit to detain;
Then, Father, be our closing eyes
Undimmed by tears of grief;
And, if a trembling doubt arise,
Help thou our unbelief!
1 O THAT my heart was right with Thee,
And loved thee with a perfect love!
O that my Lord would dwell in me,
And never from his seat remove!
2 Father, I dwell in mournful night,
Till thou dost in my heart appear;
Arise, propitious Sun! and light
An everlasting morning there.
3 O let my prayer acceptance find,
And bring the mighty blessing down;
Eyesight impart, for I am blind;
And seal me thine adopted son.
|