636
On changing place of abode.
SOLE Sov'reign of the earth and skies,
Supremely good, supremely
Fix thou the place of our abode,
But let it still be near our God.
2 On earth we weary pilgrims roam,
Nor find, nor hope, a lasting home;
We seek a house not made with hands,
A heavenly house, which ever stands.
3 Yet while we sojourn here below,
Let streams of mercy round us flow;
And when our destined race is run,
Assign us mansions near thy throne.
637
Death of a child.
THEREFORE should I make my moan,
He to early rest is gone,-
He to paradise is fled:
I shall go to him, but he
Never shall return to me.
2 God forbids his longer stay;
God recalls the precious loan; God hath taken him away,
From my bosom to his own: Surely what he wills is best; Happy in his will I rest.
3 Faith cries out,-It is the Lord, Let him do as seems him good! Be thy holy name adored;
Take the gift awhile bestow'd: Take the child no longer mine; Thine he is, forever thine.
Overwhelming grief.
THOU, who in the olive shade,
When the dark hour came on,
Didst, with a breath of heavenly aid,
Strengthen thy suff'ring Son,-
2 O, by the anguish of that night,
Send us down blest relief;
Or, to the chasten'd, let thy might
Hallow this whelming grief.
3 And thou, that, when the starry sky
Saw the dread strife begun,
Didst teach adoring faith to cry,-
Father, thy will be done :-
4 By thy meek Spirit, thou, of all
That e'er have mourn'd the chief,
Blest Saviour, if the stroke must fall,
Hallow this whelming grief.
639
10th P. M. 8 lines 88. Happiness of those whom God correcteth.
the sorrowful
Whose sorrow is sent from above!
Indulged with a visit of pain,-
Chastised by omnipotent love;
The Author of all his distress
He comes by affliction to know,
And God he in heaven shall bless,
That ever he suffer'd below.
2 Thus, thus may I happily grieve,
And bear the intent of his rod;
The marks of adoption receive,—
The strokes of a merciful God:
With nearer access to his throne,
My burden of folly confess;
The cause of my miseries own,
And cry for an answer of peace.
3 0 Father of mercies, on me,
On me, in affliction, bestow
A power of applying to thee,-
A sanctified use of my wo:
I would, in a spirit of prayer,
To all thy appointments submit ;
The pledge of my happiness bear,
And joyfully die at thy feet.
4 Then, Father, and never till then,
all the felicity prove,
Of living a moment in pain,-
Of dying in Jesus's love:
A sufferer here with my Lord,
With Jesus above I sit down;
Receive an eternal reward,
And glory obtain in a crown.
640
Death of a relative or friend.
death our friends and us divide,
IF chide,
Or frown, our tears to see; Restrain'd from passionate excess, Thou bidd'st us mourn in calm distress For them that rest in thee.
2 We feel a strong immortal hope,
Which bears our mournful spirits up,
Beneath their mountain load;
Redeem'd from death, and grief, and pain,
We soon shall find our friend again
Within the arms of God.
3 Pass a few fleeting moments more, And death the blessing shall restore
Which death has snatch'd away; For us thou wilt the summons send, And give us back our parted friend, In that eternal day.
Sustaining grace prayed for.
AUGHT by our Lord, we will not pray
But keep us, in our evil day,
Till patient faith is fully proved.
2 From sin, the world, and Satan's snare,
The members of thy Son defend,
Till all thy character we bear,
And grace matured in glory end.
642
Bereavement and resignation.
JESUS, while our hearts are bleeding
the that death won, We would, at this solemn meeting, Calmly say,-Thy will be done.
2 Though cast down, we're not forsaken;
Though afflicted, not alone:
Thou didst give, and thou hast taken;
Blessed Lord,-Thy will be done.
Rejoicing in thy favour,
Thou everlasting King:
3 Though to-day we're fill'd with mourning,
Mercy still is on the throne;
With thy smiles of love returning,.
We can sing,-Thy will be done.
4 By thy hands the boon was given;
Thou hast taken but thine own:
Lord of earth, and God of heaven,
Evermore,-Thy will be done.
643
26th P. M. 76, 76, 76, 76.
Exulting in the favour of God.
thee, our God and Saviour,
We'll celebrate thy glory,
With all the saints above;
And tell the wondrous story
Of thy redeeming love.
2 Soon as the morn with roses
Bedecks the dewy east,
And when the sun reposes
Upon the ocean's breast;
Our voice in supplication,
Jehovah, thou shalt hear;
O grant us thy salvation,
And be thou ever near.
3 By thee through life supported,
We pass the dang'rous road,
By heavenly hosts escorted
Up to their bright abode;
There cast our crowns before thee,
Our toils and conflicts o'er,
And day and night adore thee,
Forever, ever more.
644
Retirement and meditation.
AR from the world, O Lord, I flee,
From scenes where Satan wages still
His most successful war.
2 The calm retreat, the silent shade,
With prayer and praise agree;
And seem by thy sweet bounty made
For those who follow thee.
3 There, if thy Spirit touch the soul,
And grace her mean abode,
O with what peace, and joy, and love,
Does she commune with God!
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