How soon we found a gracious God,
Where deep distress had been!

3 A Father's hand we felt,

A Father's heart we knew;
'Mid tears of penitence we knelt,

And found his word was true:

4 Now we will bless the Lord,
And in his strength confide
For ever be his name adored
For there is none beside.

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 ba
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.

AIYMOUS

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, ro
My heart defies your shock;

Ye make me cling to God the more, -
To God, my sheltering Rock.

Our Salvation in Trouble.

1 O THOU whose compassionate care
Forbids my sad heart to complain,
Now graciously teach me to bear
The weight of affliction and pain.

BATH COLL

2 Though cheerless my days seem to flow, Though weary and wakeful my nights, What comfort it gives me to know

'T is the hand of a Father that smites !

3 A tender physician thou art,

Who woundest in order to heal,
And comfort divine dost impart
To soften the anguish we feel.

4 O, let this correction be blest,
And answer thy gracious design ;
Then grant that my soul may find rest
In comforts so healing as thine.

458.

C. M.

Asking Mercy in Affliction.

EDMESTON

1 O THOU whose mercy guides my way,

Though now it seem severe,
Forbid unbelief to say

my

There is no mercy here.

2 O, grant me to desire the pain
That comes in kindness down,
More than the world's alluring gain
Succeeded by a frown.

3 Then, though thou how my spirit low,
Love only shall I see;

A Father's hand directs the blow,
In mercy chastens me.

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” 1 THOUGH sorrows rise and dangers roll In waves of darkness o'er my soul; Though friends are false, and love decays And few and evil are my days;

Yet e'en in nature's utmost ill,

I'll love thee, Lord, I'll love thee still
2 Though conscience, fiercest of my foes,
Swells with remembered guilt my woes,
And memory points, with busy pain,
To grace and mercy given in vain ;
Though every thought has power to kill,
I'll love thee, Lord, I'll love thee still.
3 O, by the woes Messiah bore,

And in his griefs was loved the more;
By these my pangs, whose healing smart
Thy grace hath planted in my heart;
I know, I feel, thy gracious will,

HEBER

Thou lov'st me, Lord, thou lov'st me still.

460.

C. M.

"Thy Will be done."

PERCY CHAPEL COLL

1 FATHER, I know thy ways are just,
Although to me unknown;

O, grant me grace thy love to trust,

And cry, 66

Thy will be done.”

2 If thou shouldst hedge with thorns my path, Should wealth and friends be gone,

Still, with a firm and lively faith,

I'll cry,

"Thy will be done.'

3 Although thy steps I cannot trace,

Thy sovereign right I'll own ;
And, as instructed by thy grace,
Thy will be done.”

I'll cry,

4 'T is sweet thus passively to lie
Before thy gracious throne,
Concerning every thing to cry,
My Father's will be done."

461.

8 & 6s. M. (Peculiar.)

"Thy Will be done."

ANONYMOUS

1 MY God, my Father, while I stray
Far from my home on life's rough way,
O, teach me from my heart to say,

Thy will, my God, be done."

2 Though dark my path, and sad my lot,
Let me be still, and murmur not,
And breathe the prayer divinely taught,
"Thy will, my God, be done."
3 What though in lonely grief I sigh
For friends beloved no longer nigh;
Submissive still would I reply,

"Thy will, my God, be done."
4 If thou shouldst call me to resign
What most I prize, - it ne'er was mine,
I only yield thee what is thine ;
Thy will, my God, be done.'

66

5 Should pining sickness waste away
My life in premature decay,
In life or death teach me to say,

"Thy will, my God, be done."
6 Renew my will from day to day,
Blend it with thine, and take away
Whate'er now makes it hard to say,
"Thy will, my God, be done."
C. M.

462.

Filial Submission.

1 AND can my heart aspire so high,
To say, "My Father, God"?

STIELE

Lord, at thy feet I fain would lie,
And learn to kiss the rod.

2 I would submit to all thy will,
For thou art good and wise;
Let each rebellious thought be still,
Nor one faint murmur rise.

3 Thy love can cheer the darkest gloom,
And bid me wait serene,

Till hopes and joys immortal bloom,
And brighten all the scene.

4" My Father, God," permit my heart
To plead her humble claim,

And ask the bliss those words impart,
In my Redeemer's name.

463.

C. M. SABBATH RECREATIONS
Resignation.

1 IN trouble and in grief, O God,
Thy smile hath cheered my way;
And joy hath budded from each thorn,
That round my footsteps lay.

2 The hours of pain have yielded good,
Which prosperous days refused;
As herbs, though scentless when entire,
Spread fragrance when they 're bruised.
3 The oak strikes deeper, as its boughs
By furious blasts are driven;

So life's tempestuous storms the more
Have fixed my heart in heaven.

4 All-gracious Lord, whate'er my lot
In other times may be,

I'll welcome still the heaviest grief,
That brings me near to thee.