1 THE billows swell, the winds are high,
Clouds overcast my wintry sky;
Out of the depths to thee I call;
My fears are great, my strength is small.
2 O Lord, the pilot's part perform,
And guard and guide me through the storm;
Defend me from each threatening ill;
Control the waves; say, "Peace! be still!"
3 Amidst the roaring of the sea,
My soul still hangs her hope on thee;
Thy constant love, thy faithful care,
Is all that saves me from despair.
4 Though tempest-tost and half a wreck,
My Saviour through the floods I seek;
Let neither winds nor stormy main
Force back my shattered bark again.
Trust in the All-seeing God.
1 MIGHTY God! the first, the last!
What are ages, in thy sight,
But as yesterday when past,
Or a watch within the night?
2 All that being ever knew,
Far, far back, ere time had birth,
Stands as clear within thy view
As the present things of earth.
3 All that being e'er shall know,
On, still on, through farthest years,
All eternity can show,
Bright before thee now appears.
4 In thine all-embracing sight,
Every change its purpose meets,
Every cloud floats into light,
Every woe its glory greets.
5 Whatsoe'er our lot may be,
Calmly in this thought we 'll rest,-
Could we see as thou dost see,
We should choose it as the best.
"He knoweth what ye have need of."
1 AUTHOR of good, we rest on thee;
Thine ever-watchful eye
Alone our real wants can see,
Thy hand alone supply.
2 In thine all-gracious providence
Our cheerful hopes confide;
O let thy power be our defence,
Thy love our footsteps guide!
3 And since, by passion's force subdued,
Too oft, with stubborn will,
We blindly shun the latent good,
And grasp the specious ill,—
4 Not what we wish, but what we want, Let mercy still supply:
The good unasked, O Father, grant;
The ill, though asked, deny.
The Benefit of Affliction.
1 O GOD, to thee my sinking soul
In deep distress doth fly;
Thy love can all my griefs control,
And all my wants supply.
2 How oft, when dark misfortune's band
Around their victim stood,
The seeming ill, at thy command,
Hath changed to real good!
3 The tempest that obscured the sky
Hath set my bosom free
From earthly care and sensual joy,
And turned my thoughts to thee.
4 Affliction's blast hath made me learn To feel for others' woe,
And humbly seek, with deep concern, My own defects to know.
5 Then rage, ye storms; ye billows, roar; My heart defies your shock;
Ye make me cling to God the more,-
To God, my sheltering Rock.
Deliverances celebrated. Psalm 116.
1 Look back, my soul, with grateful love On what thy God has done;
Praise him for his unnumbered gifts,
And praise him for his Son.
2 How oft hath his indulgent hand
My flowing eyelids dried,
And rescued from impending death,
When I in danger cried!
3 When on the bed of pain I lay,
With sickness sore oppressed,
How oft hath he assuaged my grief,
And lulled my eyes to rest!
4 Back from destruction's yawning pit
At his command I came;
He fed the expiring lamp anew,
And raised its feeble flame.
5 My broken spirit he hath cheered,
When torn with inward grief;
And, when temptations pressed me sore,
Hath brought me swift relief.
6 Still will I walk before his face,
While he this life prolongs;
Till grace shall all its work complete,
And teach me heavenly songs.
God the Pilgrim's Guide and Strength.
1 GUIDE me, O thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land:
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
Hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more.
2 Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing streams do flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong Deliverer,
Be thou still my strength and shield.
3 When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Bear me through the swelling current;
Land me safe on Canaan's side:
Songs of praises
I will ever give to thee.
1 O DRAW me, Father, after thee,
So shall I run and never tire;
With gracious words still comfort me;
Be thou my hope, my sole desire:
Free me from every weight; nor fear
Nor sin can come, if thou art here.
2 From all eternity, with love
Unchangeable thou hast me viewed;
Ere knew this beating heart to move,
Thy tender mercies me pursued;
Ever with me may they abide,
And close me in on every side.
3 In suffering be thy love my peace,
In weakness be thy love my power;
And when the storms of life shall cease,
My God! in that important hour,
In death as life be thou my guide,
And bear me through death's whelming tide.
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