HOPE of the wretched! thou alone
The broken heart canst bind ;
Caust ease the deepest pangs we feel,
And raise the sinking mind.

2

Did ever, Lord! thy gracious ear
The contrite prayer disdain?
Or when did misery humbly sigh,
Or supplicate in vain?

3

Oppress'd with grief and shame, dissolv'd In penitential tears,

Thy goodness calms our restless doubts And dissipates our fears.

4

New life from thy refreshing grace,
Our sinking hearts receive;
Thy gentlest, best-lov'd attribute,
To pity and forgive.

5

Thy grace hath caus'd celestial hope
To shine serenely bright;

And shed her soft and cheering beam
O'er sorrow's darkest night.

6

Our hearts adore thy mercy, Lord!
And bless the friendly ray,
Which ushers in the smiling morn
Of everlasting day.

The abounding Compassion of God.--Ps. ciii.

1

My soul, repeat his praise, Whose mercies are so great; Whose anger is so slow to rise, So ready to abate.

2

High as the heavens are rais'd
Above the ground we tread,
So far the riches of his grace
Our highest thoughts exceed.
3

His word subdues our sins;
And his forgiving love,

Far as the east is from the west,
Doth all our guilt remove.

4

The pity of the Lord,

To those that fear his name, Is such as tender parents feel: He knows our feeble frame.

5

Our days are as the grass,

Or like the morning flower;

If one sharp blast sweep o'er the plain, It withers in an hour.

6

But thy compassions, Lord!
To endless years endure;

And children's children ever find

Thy word of promise sure.

93.

L. M.

The Fatherly Compassion of God.-Ps. ciii.

1

THE Lord-how wondrous are his ways! How firm his truth! how large his grace! He takes his mercy for his throne,

And thence he makes his glories known.

2

Not half so high his power hath spread
The starry heavens above our head,
As his rich love exceeds our praise,
Exceeds the highest hopes we raise.
3

Not half so far his hand hath plac'd
The rising morning from the west,
As doth his pardoning grace remove
The guilt of those who seek his love.

4

Our heavenly Father, wise and just,
Knows that our frame is feeble dust
And will no heavy load impose,
Beyond the strength which he bestows.

5

He knows how soon our nature dies,
Blasted by every wind that flies:
Like grass we spring, and die as soon;
Or morning flowers that fade at noon.

6

But his eternal love is sure

To all the saints, and shall endure;
From age to age his truth shall reign,
Nor children's children hope in vain.

94. C. M.

The Universal Goodness of God.

1

SWEET is the memory of thy grace,
My God! my heavenly King!
Let age to age thy righteousness
In sounds of glory sing.

2

God reigns on high, but not confines
His goodness to the skies:

Through the whole earth his bounty shines,
And every want supplies.

3

With longing eyes thy creatures wait
On thee for daily food:

Thy liberal hand provides their meat,
Ånd fills their mouths with good.

4

How kind are thy compassions, Lord!
How slow thine anger moves!-
And soon he sends his pardoning word,
To cheer the souls he loves.

5

Creatures, with all their endless race,
Thy power and praise proclaim;
But saints, that taste thy richer grace,
Delight to bless thy name.

My God! thy boundless love I praise:
How bright on high its glories blaze!
How sweetly bloom below!

It streams from thine eternal throne ;
Through heaven its joys for ever run,
And o'er the earth they flow.

2

"Tis love that paints the purple morn,
And bids the clouds, in air upborne,
Their genial drops distil:
In every vernal beam it glows;
It breathes in every gale that blows,
And glides in every rill.

3

It robes in cheerful green the ground;
And pours its flowery beauties round,
Whose sweets perfume the gale:
Its bounties richly spread the plain—
The blushing fruit, the golden grain ;
And smile on every vale,

4

But in thy gospel see it shine
With grace and glories most divine,
Proclaiming sins forgiven:

There faith, bright seraph, points the way
To realms of everlasting day,

And opens all her heaven.

I