2 How oft hath his indulgent hand

My flowing eyelids dried,
And rescued from impending death,

When I in danger cried !
3 When on the bed of pain I lay,

With sickness sore oppressed,
How oft hath he assuaged my grief,

And lulled my eyes to rest !
4 Back from destruction's yawning pit

At his command I came;
He fed the expiring lamp anew,

And raised its feeble flame.
5 My broken spirit he hath cheered,

When torn with inward grief;
And, when temptations pressed me sore,

Hath brought me swift relief. 6 Still will I walk before his face,

While he this life prolongs;
Till grace shall all its work complete,

And teach me heavenly songs.

171

L. M.

TATE & BRADY. Confidence in the divine Care. Ps. 18. 1 NO change of times shall ever shock

My firm affection, Lord, to thee;
For thou hast always been a rock,

A fortress and defence to me.
2 Thou my Deliverer art, my God;

My trust is in thy mighty power ;
Thou art my shield from foes abroad,

At home my safeguard and my tower.

3 To heaven I made my mournful prayer,

To God addressed my humble moan, Who graciously inclined his ear,

And heard me from his lofty throne. 4 He left the beauteous realms of light,

Whilst heaven bowed down its awful head ; Beneath his feet substantial night

Was, like a sable carpet, spread. 5 The chariot of the King of kings,

Which active troops of angels drew, On a strong tempest's rapid wings,

With most amazing swiftness flew. 6 Who, then, deserves to be adored,

But God, on whom my hopes depend?
Or who, except the mighty Lord,
Can with resistless power

defend ?

172
L. M.

Watts.
God our Refuge. Ps. 115.
1 NOT to ourselves, who are but dust,

Not to ourselves, is glory due ; Eternal God, thou only just,

Thou only gracious, wise, and true. 2 The God we serve maintains his throne

Above the clouds, beyond the skies ; Through all the earth his will is done;

He knows our groans, he hears our cries. 3 O Israel, make the Lord thy hope,

Thy help, thy refuge, and thy rest; The Lord shall build thy ruins up,

And bless the people and the priest.

4 The dead no more can speak thy praise;

They dwell in silence and the grave; But we shall live to sing thy grace,

And tell the world thy power to save.

173
C. M.

DODDRIDGE The Days of the Upright known to God. 1 TO thee, my God, my days are known;

My soul enjoys the thought;
My actions all before thy face,

Nor are my faults forgot.

2 Each secret breath devotion vents

Is vocal to thine ear;
And all my walks of daily life

Before thine eye appear.

3 The vacant hour, the active scene,

Thy mercy shall approve;
And every pang of sympathy,

And every care of love.
4 Each golden hour of beaming light

Is gilded by thy rays;
And dark affliction's midnight gloom

A present God surveys.
5 Full in thy view through life I pass,

And in thy view I die;
And, when each mortal bond is broke,

Shall find my God is nigh.

140

174

C. M.

TATE & BRADY. God the Defence of the Just. Ps. 34. 1 THROUGH all the changing scenes of life,

In trouble and in joy,
The praises of my God shall still

My heart and tongue employ. 2 O, magnify the Lord with me,

With me exalt his name;
When, in distress, to him I called,

He to my rescue came.
3 The hosts of God encamp around

The dwellings of the just; Deliverance he affords to all

Who on his succor trust.
4 O, make but trial of his love,

Experience will decide
How blest they are, and only they,

Who in his truth confide.
5 Fear him, ye saints, and you will then

Have nothing else to fear;
Make you his service your delight;

He'll make your wants his care.

175
L. M.

Watts. God's Care of the Saints. Ps. 34. 1 LORD, I will bless thee all my days;

Thy praise shall dwell upon my tongue; My soul shall glory in thy grace,

While saints rejoice to hear the song.

2 Come, magnify the Lord with me;

Come, let us all exalt his name; I sought the eternal God, and he

Has not exposed my hope to shame. 3 I told him all my secret grief;

My secret groaning reached his ears; He gave my inward pains relief,

And calmed the tumult of my fears. 4 To him the poor lift up their eyes;

Their faces feel the heavenly shine; A beam of mercy from the skies

Fills them with light and joy divine. 5 His holy angels pitch their tents

Around the men that serve the Lord : O, fear and love him, all his saints;

Taste of his grace, and trust his word.

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C. M.

WATTS. The Saints' Trial and Safety. Ps. 125. 1 UNSHAKEN as the sacred hill,

And firm as mountains be,
Firm as a rock, the soul shall rest,

That leans, O Lord, on thee.
2 Not walls nor hills could guard so well

Old Salem's happy ground,
As those eternal arms of love

That every saint surround.
3 Deal gently, Lord, with souls sincere,

And lead them safely on
To the bright gates of Paradise,
Where Christ their Lord is gone.