Dear Lord, if indeed I am Thine,

If Thou art my Sun and my Song; Say, why do I languish and pine,

And why are my winters so long? O drive these dark clouds from my sky, Thy soul-cheering Presence restore; Or take me unto Thee on high,

Where winter and clouds are no more.

47. THE BELIEVER'S SAFETY.

Psalm xci.

INCARNATE GOD! the soul that knows
Thy Name's mysterious power,
Shall dwell in undisturb'd repose,
Nor fear the trying hour.

Thy wisdom, faithfulness, and love,
To feeble, helpless worms,
A buckler and a refuge prove
From enemies and storms.

In vain the fowler spreads his net,
To draw them from Thy care:
Thy timely call instructs their feet
To shun the artful snare.

When, like a baleful pestilence,
Sin mows its thousands down;
On every side without defence,
Thy grace secures Thine own.

F

No midnight terrors haunt their bed,

No arrow wounds by day;

Unhurt on serpents they shall tread,
If found in duty's way.

Angels, unseen, attend the saints,
And bear them in their arms,
To cheer the spirit when it faints,
And guard their life from harms.

The angels' Lord Himself is nigh
To them that love His name,
Ready to save them when they cry,
And put their foes to shame.

Crosses and changes are their lot,
Long as they sojourn here;
But since their Saviour changes not,
What have the saints to fear?

48. Another.

THAT man no guard or weapon needs,
Whose heart the blood of Jesus knows;
But safe may pass, if duty leads,

Through burning sands or mountain snows.

Released from guilt, he feels no fear,

Redemption is his shield and tower;

He sees his Saviour always near,

To help in every trying hour.

Though I am weak, and Satan strong,
And often to assault me tries;
When Jesus is my Shield and Song,
Abash'd the wolf before me flies.

His love possessing, I am blest,
Secure whatever change may come :
Whether I go to east or west,

With Him I still shall be at home.

If placed beneath the northern pole,

Though winter reigns with rigour there; His gracious beams would cheer my soul, And make a spring throughout the year. Or if the desert's sun-burnt soil

My lonely dwelling e'er should prove, His presence would support my toil, Whose smile is life, whose voice is love.

49. HE LED THEM BY A RIGHT WAY.
Psalm cvii. 7.

WHEN Israel was from Egypt freed,

The Lord, who brought them out,
Help'd them in every time of need,
But led them round about.*

To enter Canaan soon they hoped;
But quickly changed their mind,

*Exod. xiii. 17.

See Hymn on Psalm

xciv. 17, page 364.

When the Red Sea their passage stopp'd,

And Pharaoh march'd behind.

The desert fill'd them with alarms

For water and for food;
And Amalek, by force of arms,
To check their progress stood.

They often murmur'd by the way,
Because they judged by sight;
But were at length constrain'd to say,
The Lord had led them right.

In the Red Sea, that stopp'd them first,
Their enemies were drown'd;

The rocks gave water for their thirst,
And manna spread the ground.

By fire and cloud their way was shown
Across the pathless sands;

And Amalek was overthrown
By Moses' lifted hands.

The way was right their hearts to prove,
To make God's glory known,
And show His wisdom, power, and love,
Engaged to save His own.

Just so the true believer's path

Through many dangers lies;

Though dark to sense, 'tis right to faith, And leads us to the skies.

50. WHAT SHALL I RENDER ?*
Psa. cxvi. 12, 13.

FOR mercies, countless as the sands,
Which daily I receive

From Jesus my Redeemer's hands,
My soul, what canst thou give?

Alas! from such a heart as mine,
What can I bring Him forth?
My best is stain'd and dyed with sin,
My all is nothing worth.

Yet this acknowledgment I'll make For all He has bestow'd; Salvation's sacred cup I'll take, And call upon my God.

The best returns for one like me,
So wretched and so poor,
Is from His gifts to draw a plea,
And ask Him still for more.

I cannot serve Him as I ought,
No works have I to boast;
Yet would I glory in the thought
That I should owe Him most.

* Book iii., Hymn 67.