Thy power, our ever present guard,
From every ill defends;
While numerous dangers hover round,
Our help from thee descends.
When storms of strong temptation blow,
Or floods of sorrow roll,
Thou art the help and refuge too
Of the afflicted soul.
The riches of thy boundless love,
O LORD! to us extend,
Since we for all we want or wish
On thee alone depend.
The Perfections and Providence of God.
HIGH in the heavens, eternal GOD!
Thy goodness in full glory shines;
Thy truth shall break through every cloud
Which veils and darkens thy designs.
For ever firm thy justice stands,
As mountains their foundations keep;
Wise are the wonders of thy hands;
Thy judgments are a mighty deep.
Thy providence is kind and large;
Both man and beast thy bounty share;
The whole creation is thy charge,
Thy saints are thy peculiar care.
O GOD! how excellent thy grace!
Thence all our hope and comfort spring;
In fear, in trouble, and distress,
We'll seek the shadow of thy wing.
The living bread thy word bestows,
Will fainting souls with strength renew;
There mercy like a river flows,
And brings salvation to our view.
Life like a fountain rich and free,
Springs from the goodness of the LORD;
And in thy presence we shall see
The glories promis'd in thy word,
Providence merciful though mysterious.
GOD moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his vast designs,
And works his sovereign will.
Ye fearful souls, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
With blessings on your head.
Judge not the LORD by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will open fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his ways in vain;
GOD is his own interpreter,
And he will make them plain.
Providence kind and bountiful.
THY kingdom, LORD! for ever stands,
While earthly thrones decay;
And time submits to thy commands,
While ages roll away.
Thy sovereign bounty freely gives
Its unexhausted store;
And universal nature lives
On thy sustaining power.
Holy and just are all thy ways;
Thy goodness all divine;
In all thy works, immortal rays
Of power and mercy shine.
Thy praise, O GOD! delightful theme!
Shall fill my heart and tongue;
Let all creation bless thy name
In one eternal song.
The Bounties of Providence praised.
FATHER of light! we sing thy name,
Who kindlest up the lamp of day;
Wide as it spreads its cheering flame,
Its beams thy power and love display.
Fountain of good! from thee proceeds,
In plenteous drops, the genial rain,
Which through the hills, and through the
meads,
Revives the grass, and swells the grain.
Oh ne'er may our forgetful hearts
O'erlook the tokens of thy care;
But what thy liberal hand imparts
Still own in praise, still ask in prayer!
So shall our suns more grateful shine,
And showers in richer drops shall fall,
When all our hearts and lives are thine,
And thou, O GOD! ador'd in all.
Divine Bounty crowns the Year.
'Tis by thy strength the mountains stand, GOD of eternal power!
The sea grows calm at thy command,
And tempests cease to roar.
The morning light, and evening shade,
Successive comforts bring:
Thy plenteous fruits make harvest glad;
Thy flowers adorn the spring.
Seasons, and times, and days, and hours, Heaven, earth, and air are thine: When clouds distil in fruitful showers, The Author is divine.
The thirsty ridges drink their fill,
And ranks of corn appear:
Thy ways abound with blessings still;
Thy goodness crowns the year.
The Goodness of God in the Seasons.
GREAT GOD, at whose all-powerful call At first arose this beauteous frame ! Thou bidst the seasons change, and all The changing seasons speak thy name.
Thy bounty bids the infant year
From winter storms recover'd rise;
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