4 Though vine nor fig-tree neither
Their wonted fruit shall bear,
Though all the field should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there,
Yet GOD the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice;
For while in Him confiding
I cannot but rejoice.

7's.

*William Cowper,

1731-1800.

300

I

UIET, LORD! my froward heart;
Make me teachable and mild,

Upright, simple, free from art,

Make me as a weanèd 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;

'Tis 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.

4 Thus preserved from Satan's wiles, Safe from dangers, free from fears, May I live upon Thy smiles

Till the promised hour appears,

When the sons of GOD shall prove
All their FATHER'S boundless love!

*John Newton, 1725-1807.

301

Ό

LORD! how happy should we be
If we could cast our care on Thee,

If we from self could rest,

And feel at heart that One above
In perfect wisdom, perfect love,
Is working for the best!

2 How far from this our daily life!
How oft disturbed by anxious strife,
By sudden wild alarms!
O could we but relinquish all
Our earthly props, and simply fall
On Thine almighty arms!

3 Could we but kneel and cast our load,
Even while we pray, upon our GOD,
Then rise with lightened cheer;
Sure that the FATHER, Who is nigh
To still the famished raven's cry,
Will hear in that we fear.

8.6.

4 We cannot trust Him as we should;
So chafes weak nature's restless mood
To cast its peace away;

But birds and flowerets round us preach,
All, all the present evil teach
Sufficient for the day.

5 LORD! make these faithless hearts of ours Such lessons learn from birds and flowers; Make them from self to cease,

Leave all things to a FATHER'S will,
And taste, before Him lying still,
Even in affliction peace.

C.M.

Joseph Anstice, 1808-1836.

302

I

Go

OD moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform ;

He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

2 Deep in unfathomable mines.
Of never-failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

3 Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

4 Judge not the LORD by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

5 His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

6 Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain;
GOD is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

303

L

L.M.

ORD! my weak thought in vain would climb

To search the starry vault profound; In vain would wing her flight sublime To find creation's utmost bound.

2 But weaker yet that thought must prove
To search Thy great eternal plan,
Thy sovereign counsels born of love
Long ages ere the world began.

3

When my dim reason would demand
Why that, or this, Thou dost ordain,
By some vast deep I seem to stand

Whose secrets I must ask in vain.

4 When doubts disturb my troubled breast, And all is dark as night to me,

Here as on solid rock I rest,

That so it seemeth good to Thee.

5 Be this my joy, that evermore
Thou rulest all things at Thy will;
Thy sovereign wisdom I adore,
And calmly trust Thy goodness still.

Is laid for your faith in His excellent word! What more can He say than to you He hath said,

You who unto JESUS for refuge have fled?

2 In every condition-in sickness, in health, In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth, At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea, As thy days may demand shall thy strength ever be.

3 Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed! I, I am thy GOD, and will still give thee aid; I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

4 When through the deep waters I call thee

to go

The rivers of grief shall not thee overflow; The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.