179.

S. M.

CHRISTIAN PSALMIST

God working in the Soul.

IT IS God, the Spirit, leads
In paths before unknown:

The work to be performed is ours ;
The strength is all his own.

2 Assisted by his grace,

We still pursue our way,
And hope at last to reach the prize,
Secure in endless day.

3 'T is he that works to will,
"T is he that works to do,

His is the power by which we act,
His be the glory too.

180.

L. M.

Providential Bounties improved.

DODDRIDGE

1 FATHER of lights! we sing thy name
Who kindlest up the lamp of day;
Wide as he spreads his golden flame,
His beams thy power and love display.
2 Fountain of good! from thee proceed
The copious drops of genial rain,
Which, o'er the hill and through the mead,
Revive the grass, and swell the grain.

3 Through the wide world thy bounties spread; Yet millions of our guilty race,

Though by thy daily bounty fed,
Affront thy law, and spurn thy grace.

4 Not so 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.
5 So shall our suns more grateful shine,
And showers in sweeter drops shall fall,

When all our hearts and lives are thine,
And thou, O God! enjoyed in all.

181.

L. M.

Deliverances acknowledged

WESLEY'S COLL

1 GOD of my life, 'whose gracious power Through varied deaths my soul hath led, Or turned aside the fatal hour,

Or lifted up my sinking head,

2 In all my ways thy hand I own,
Thy ruling providence I see ;
Assist me still my course to run,
And still direct my paths to thee.
3 Whither, O, whither should I fly,
But to my loving Father's breast,
Secure within thine arms to lie,

And safe beneath thy wings to rest?
4 I have no skill the snare to shun;
But thou, O God, my wisdom art :
I ever into ruin run;

But thou art greater than my heart. 5 Foolish, and impotent, and blind,

Lead me a way I have not known ;

Bring me where I my heaven may find,

The heaven of loving thee alone.

The Heavens declare the Glory of God.

1 THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,

ADDISON

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.

Th' unwearied sun, from day to day,

Doth his Creator's power display ;

And publishes to every land
The work of an almighty hand

2 Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth;

Whilst all the stars which round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.
3 What though, in 'solemn silence, all
Move round this dark terrestrial ball;
What though no real voice nor sound
Amidst their radiant orbs be found;
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice;
For ever singing, as they shine,
"The hand that made us is divine."

DRUMMOND

1 THE God who reigns alone
O'er earth, and sea, and sky,
Let man with praises own,
And sound his honors high.

2 Him all in heaven above,
Him all on earth below,
Th' exhaustless Source of love,
The great Creator, know.
3 He formed the living frame,
He gave the reasoning mind;
Then only he may claim
The worship of mankind.
4 So taught his only Son,
Blest messenger of grace!
Th' Eternal is but one,
No second holds his place.

184.

S. M.

God our Shepherd.

WATTS

1 THE Lord my Shepherd is;
I shall be well supplied;
Since he is mine, and I am his,
What can I want beside ?
2 He leads me to the place

Where heavenly pasture grows,
Where living waters gently pass,
And full salvation flows.

3 If e'er I go astray,

He doth my soul reclaim,

And guides me, in his own right way,

For his most holy name.

4 While he affords his aid,

I cannot yield to fear;

Though I should walk through death's dark shade,
My Shepherd 's with me there.

1 THE Lord my pasture shall prepare,
And feed me with a shepherd's care;
His presence shall my wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful eye :
My noonday walks he shall attend,
And all my midnight hours defend.
2 When in the sultry glebe I faint,
Or on the thirsty mountain pant,
To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary, wandering steps he leads,
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the verdant landscape flow.
3 Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious, lonely wilds I stray,

ADDISON

Thy bounty shall my pains beguile;
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden greens and herbage crowned,
And streams shall murmur all around.
4 Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill;
For thou, O Lord! art with me still;
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.
7s. M.

186.

God a Refuge.

1 FATHER, Refuge of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high:
Hide me, O my Father, hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O, receive my soul at last!
2 Other refuge have I none;
Helpless hangs my soul on thee;
Leave, O, leave me not alone!
Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
All my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head

With the shadow of thy wing.
3 Thou, O God, art all I want;

WESLEYAN.

Boundless love, through Christ, I find :

Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,

Heal the sick, and lead the blind.

Thou of life the fountain art;
Freely let me take of thee;

Reign, O Lord, within my heart •
Reign to all eternity.