The Fatherly Love of God.
1 GOD, who is just and kind,
Will those who err instruct,
And to the paths of righteousness
Their wandering steps conduct.
2 The humble soul he guides,
Teaches the meek his way,
Kindness and truth he shows to all
Who his just laws obey.
3 Give me the tender heart
That mixes fear with love,
And lead me through whatever path
Thy wisdom shall approve.
4 Oh! ever keep my soul
From error, shame and guilt;
Nor suffer the fair hope to fail,
Which on thy truth is built.
1 O LORD, thy heavenly grace impart,
And fix my frail, inconstant heart:
Henceforth my chief desire shall be
To dedicate myself to thee.
2 Whate'er pursuits my time employ,
One thought shall fill my soul with joy:
That silent, secret thought shall be,
That all my hopes are fixed on thee.
3 Thy glorious eye pervadeth space;
Thy presence, Lord, fills every place;
And wheresoe'er my lot may be,
Still shall my spirit cleave to thee.
4 Renouncing every earthly thing,
And safe beneath thy spreading wing,
My sweetest thought henceforth shall be,
That all I want I find in thee.
God our Refuge and Hope.
1 GOD, my supporter and my hope,
My help forever near;
Thine arm of mercy held me up,
When sinking in despair.
2 Thy counsels, Lord, shall guide my feet
Through this dark wilderness;
Thine hand conduct me near thy seat,
To dwell before thy face.
3 What if the springs of life were broke,
And flesh and heart should faint?"
God is my soul's eternal rock,
The strength of every saint.
4 Behold the sinners, that remove
Far from thy presence, die;
Not all the idol gods they love
Can save them when they cry.
5 But to draw near to thee, my God,
Shall be my sweet employ;
My tongue shall sound thy works abroad,
And tell the world my joy.
1 ONE prayer I have,-all prayers in one,
When I am wholly thine;
"Thy will, my God, thy will be done,
And let that will be mine."
2 All-wise, almighty, and all-good,
In thee I firmly trust;
Thy ways, unknown or understood,
Åre merciful and just.
3 May I remember that to thee
Whate'er I have I owe;
And back in gratitude from me
May all thy bounties flow.
4 Thy gifts are only then enjoyed,
When used as talents lent;
Those talents only well employed,
When in thy service spent.
5 And though thy wisdom takes away,
Shall I arraign thy will?
No, let me bless thy name, and say,
"The Lord is gracious still."
The Soul Returning to God.
1 RETURN my soul, unto thy rest,
From vain pursuits and maddening cares, From lonely woes that wring thy breast, The world's allurements, toils and snares.
2 Return unto thy rest, my soul,
From all the wanderings of thy thought;
From sickness unto death made whole;
Safe through a thousand perils brought.
3 Then to thy rest, my soul return,
From passions every hour at strife;
Sin's works, and ways, and wages spurn,
Lay hold upon eternal life.
4 God is thy rest; with heart inclined
To keep his word, that word believe;
Christ is thy rest;-with lowly mind,
His light and easy yoke receive.
Invocation of the Divine Spirit.
1 COME, holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,
With all thy quickening powers,
Kindle a flame of sacred love
In these cold hearts of ours.
2 In vain we tune our formal songs,
In vain we strive to rise;
Hosannas languish on our tongues,
And our devotion dies.
3 Dear Lord! and shall we ever live
At this poor dying rate?
Our love so faint, so cold to thee,
And thine to us so great?
4 Come, holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,
With all thy quickening powers,
Come, shed abroad a Saviour's love,
And that shall kindle ours.
For Inward Truth.
1 AM I an Israelite indeed,
Without a false disguise?
Have I renounced my sins, and left
My refuges of lies?
2 Say, does my heart unchanged remain,
Ör is it formed anew?
What is the rule by which I walk,
The object I pursue?
3 Cause me, O God of truth and grace,
My real state to know;
If I am wrong, O set me right!
If right, preserve me so!
1 TALK with us, Lord, thyself reveal,
While here o'er earth we rove;
Speak to our hearts, and let us feel
The kindling of thy love.
2 With thee conversing, we forget
All time, and toil, and care;
Labor is rest, and pain is sweet,
If thou, my God, art here.
3 Here, then, my God, vouchsafe to stay,
And bid my heart rejoice;
My bounding heart shall own thy sway,
And echo to thy voice.
Not Ashamed of Christ.
1 JESUS! and shall it ever be!
A mortal man ashamed of thee;
Ashamed of thee, whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days
2 Ashamed of Jesus! just as soon
Let midnight be ashamed of noon;
'Tis midnight with my soul, till he,
Bright morning star, bid darkness flee
3 Ashamed of Jesus! yes I may,
When I've no guilt to wash away,
No tear to wipe-no good to crave,
No fears to quell no soul to save.
4 Till then-n nor is my boasting vain-
Till then, I boast a Saviour slain;
And oh! may this my glory be,
That Christ is not ashamed of me.
|