402 (422).

L.M.

Alongs my soul, O King of kings,
S pants the hart for cooling springs,
Thy face in near approach to see,

So thirsts, great Source of life, for Thee.
2 With ardent zeal, with strong desires,
To Thee, to Thee my soul aspires;
When shall I reach Thy blest abode?
When meet the presence of my God?
3 God of my strength, attend my cry,
Say why, my great Preserver, why
Excluded from Thy sight I go,
And bend beneath a weight of woe?

4 Why thus, my soul, with care opprest?
And whence the woes that fill my breast?
In all Thy cares, in all Thy woes,
On God thy steadfast hope repose.

5 To Him my thanks shall still be paid,
My sure defence, my constant aid;
His name my zeal shall ever raise,
And dictate to my lips His praise.

403 (426).

MY God! permit me not to be

A stranger to myself and Thee;
Amidst a thousand thoughts I rove,
Forgetful of my highest love.

L. M.

2 Why should my passions mix with earth And thus debase my heavenly birth? Why should I cleave to things below, And let my God, my Father, go?

3 Call me away from flesh and sense;
Thy gracious word can draw me thence:
I would obey the voice divine,

And all inferior joys resign.

4 Be earth, with all her cares, withdrawn ; Let noise and vanity be gone;

In secret silence of the mind,

My heaven, and there my God, I find.

404 (385).

D Behold my heart, and see;

O not I love Thee, O my Lord?

And turn each hateful idol out
That dares to rival Thee.

2 Do not I love Thee from my soul?
Then let me nothing love:
Dead be my heart to ev'ry joy
Which Thou dost not approve.

3 Is not Thy name melodious still
To mine attentive ear?

C. M

Doth not each pulse with pleasure beat
My Saviour's voice to hear?

4 Hast Thou a lamb in all Thy flock
I would disdain to feed?

Hast Thou a foe before whose face
I fear Thy cause to plead?

5 Thou know'st I love Thee, dearest Lord;
But oh! I long to soar

Far from the sphere of mortal joys,
That I may love Thee more.

i

405 (386).

BLES

C. M.

OLEST Jesus! when my soaring thoughts
O'er all Thy graces rove,

How is my soul in transport lost-
In wonder, joy, and love!

2 Not softest strains can charm mine ears, Like Thy belovéd name;

Nor aught beneath the skies inspire
My heart with equal flame.

3 Where'er I look, my wond'ring eyes
Unnumber'd blessings see;

But what is life, with all its bliss,
If once compared to Thee?

4 When nature faints, around my bed
Let Thy bright glories shine;

And death shall all his terrors lose
In raptures so divine.

406 (287).

GOD

OD, my supporter and my hope,
My help for ever near,

Thine arm of mercy holds me up,
And saves me from despair.

C. M.

2 Thy counsels, Lord, shall guide my feet
Through this dark wilderness;

Thy hand conduct me near Thy seat,
To dwell before Thy face.

3 Were I in heaven without my God,
'T would be no joy to me,

And while this earth is my abode,
I long for none but Thee.

4 What if the springs of life were broke,
And flesh and heart should faint?
God is my soul's eternal rock,
The strength of ev'ry saint.

407 (854).

78 & 68

RISE, my soul! and stretch thy wings,

Thy better portion trace;

Rise from transitory things

Toward heaven, thy native place:
Sun and moon, and stars decay,

Time shall soon this earth remove;
Rise, my soul, and haste away
To seats prepared above.

2 Rivers to the ocean run,

Nor stay in all their course;
Fire ascending seeks the sun,
Both speed them to their source:
So a soul that's born of God,
Pants to view His glorious face,
Upward tends to His abode,
To rest in His embrace.

3 Cease, ye pilgrims! cease to mourn,
Press onward to the prize;
Soon your Saviour will return
Triumphant in the skies:
But a season, and you know
Happy entrance will be given,
All your sorrows left below,
And earth exchanged for heaven.

SELF-CONSECRATION.

408 (392).

HOU art my portion, O my God;
Soon as I know Thy way,

TH

C. M.

My heart makes haste t' obey Thy word,
And suffers no delay.

2 I choose the path of heavenly truth,
And glory in my choice;
Not all the riches of the earth
Could make me so rejoice.

3 The testimonies of Thy grace
I set before mine eyes;
Thence I derive my daily strength,
And there my comfort lies.

4 Whene'er I wander from Thy path,
I think upon my ways;

Then turn my feet to Thy commands,
And trust Thy pard'ning grace.

5 Now I am Thine, for ever Thine:
Oh, save Thy servant, Lord!
Thou art my shield, my hiding-place;
My hope is in Thy Word.

6 Thou hast inclined this heart of mine
Thy statutes to fulfil;

And thus till mortal life shall end
Would I perform Thy will.