169 THE DIVINE LOVE UNCHANGEABLE.
O my soul, with all thy powers,
Bless the Lord's most holy name,
O my soul, till life's last hours,
Bless the Lord, His praise proclaim!
As the heaven the earth transcends,
Over us His care extends.
He with loving-kindness crowned thee,
Satisfied thy mouth with good;
From the snares of death unbound thee,
Eagle-like thy youth renewed:
Rich in tender mercy He,
Slow to wrath, to favor free.
Far as east and west are parted,
He our sins hath severed thus;
As a father, loving-hearted,
Spares his son, He spareth us.
For He knows our feeble frame;
He remembers whence we came.
Mark the field-flower where it groweth
Frail and beautiful ;—anon,
When the south wind softly bloweth,
Look again,—the flower is gone :
Such is man; his honors pass
Like the glory of the grass.
From eternity, enduring
To eternity, the Lord,
Still His people's bliss ensuring,
Keeps His covenanted word;
Yea, with truth and righteousness,
Children's children will He bless.
Child of the earth! O lift thy glance
To yon bright firmament's expanse;
The glories of its realms explore,
And gaze, and wonder, and adore!
Count o'er those lamps of quenchless light,
That sparkle through the shades of night!
Behold them-can a mortal boast
To number that celestial host?
Mark well each little star, whose rays
In distant splendor meet thy gaze;
Each is a world by Him sustained,
Who from eternity hath reigned.
What then art thou, O child of clay!
Amid creation's grandeur, say?
E'en as an insect on the breeze;
E'en as a dew-drop, lost in seas!
Yet fear thou not !—the sovereign hand
Which spread the ocean and the land,
And hung the rolling spheres in air,
Hath e'en for thee a father's care.
Be thou at peace! The all-seeing eye,
Pervading earth, and air, and sky-
The searching glance which none may flee,-
Is still, in mercy, turned on thee.
The springtide hour brings leaf and flower
With songs of life and love;
And many a lay wears out the day
In many a leafy grove.
Bird, flower, and tree seem to agree
Their choicest gifts to bring;
But this poor heart bears not its part;
In it there is no spring.
Lord, let Thy love, fresh from above,
Soft as the south wind, blow;
Call forth its bloom, wake its perfume,
And bid its spices flow !
And when Thy voice makes earth rejoice,
And the hills laugh and sing,
Lord, make this heart to bear its part
And join the praise of spring.
SUBJECTION TO GOD.
O Thou, who hast at Thy command
The hearts of all men in Thy hand!
Our wayward, erring hearts incline
To have no other will but Thine.
Our wishes, our desires control;
Mould every purpose of the soul;
O'er all may we victorious be,
That stands between ourselves and Thee.
Twice blest will all our blessings be
When we can look through them to Thee;
When each glad heart its tribute pays
Of love and gratitude and praise.
And while we to Thy glory live,
May we to Thee all glory give,
Until at last the summons come
That calls Thy willing servants home.
O Father, lift our souls above,
Till we find rest in Thy dear love.
And still that peace divine impart
Which sanctifies the inmost heart,
And makes each morn and setting sun
But bring us nearer to Thy throne.
Help us with man in peace to live,
Our brother's wrong in love forgive,
And day and night temptation flee,
Through strength which comes alone from Thee!
Thus will our spirits find their rest,
In Thy deep peace forever blest.
174 THE DAILY MERCIES OF GOD.
My God, how endless is Thy love!
Thy gifts are every evening new,
And morning mercies from above
Gently distil, like early dew.
Thou spreadst the curtains of the night,
Great guardian of my sleeping hours!
Thy sovereign word restores the light,
And quickens all my drowsy powers.
I yield my powers to Thy command;
To Thee I consecrate my days;
Perpetual blessings from Thy hand
Demand perpetual songs of praise.
SELF-DEDICATION.
Forth in Thy name, O Lord, I go,
My daily labor to pursue;
Thee, only Thee, resolved to know,
In all I think, or speak, or do.
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