God's merciful and constant Protection.
1 WHEN all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.
2 Unnumbered comforts on my soul
Thy tender care bestowed,
Before my infant heart conceived
From whom those comforts flowed.
3 When, in the slippery paths of youth,
With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm, unseen, conveyed me safe,
And led me up to man.
4 When worn with sickness, oft hast thou
With health renewed my face;
And when in sin and sorrow sunk,
Revived my soul with grace.
5 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
That tastes those gifts with joy.
6 Through every period of my life,
Thy goodness I'll pursue,
And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.
Deliverance celebrated, and good Resolutions formed.
1 GREAT Source of life, our souls confess
The various riches of thy grace;
Crowned with thy mercy, we rejoice,
And in thy praise exalt our voice.
2 By thee heaven's shining arch was spread;
By thee were earth's foundations laid;
And all the charms of men's abode
Proclaim the wise, the gracious God.
3 Thy tender hand restores our breath,
When trembling on the verge of death;
Gently it wipes away our tears,
And lengthens life to future years.
4 These lives are sacred to the Lord;
Kindled by him, by him restored;
And, while our hours renew their race,
Still would we walk before his face.
5 So, when by him our souls are led
Through unknown regions of the dead,
With joy triumphant shall they move
To seats of nobler life above.
1 LOOK back, my soul, with grateful love,
On what thy God has done;
Praise him for his unnumbered gifts,
And praise him for his Son.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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