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3 I yield my powers to thy command,
To thee I consecrate my days;
Perpetual blessings from thine hand,
Demand perpetual songs of praise.

54.

LAMENT. iii. 37-40.

1 AMIDST the mighty, where is he
who saith, and it is done?

Each varying scene of changeful life,
is from the Lord alone.

2 He gives in gladsome bow'rs to dwell,
or clothes in sorrow's shroud;
His hand hath form'd the light, his hand
hath form'd the dark'ning cloud.

3 Why should a living man complain
beneath his chast'ning rod?
Our sins afflict us; and the cross
must bring us back to God.

4 O sons of men! with anxious care,
your hearts and ways explore;
Return from paths of sin to God;
return, and sin no more.

55.

EZEK. xvi. 20, 21.

1 SHEPHERD of Israel, see!

The lambs once called thine

Are madly sacrific'd,

At ev'ry idol's shrine.

2 To indolence and pride,

What piteous victims made;
Crush'd in their parents' arms,
Or by neglect betray'd.

3 By pleasure's polish'd dart,

What numbers here are slain;
What numbers there are bound,
In Mammon's golden chain.

4 In mercy give command,

And bring these idols down;
These hapless children free,
And make them yet thine own.

5 Parents and sons awake,
Again the Lord adore;

Your solemn vows renew,
To be forgot no more.

56.

EZEK. xlvii. 8, 9.

1 A SACRED spring at God's command,

From Zion's mount in Canaan's land,
Beside his temple cleaves the ground,
And pours its limpid stream around.

2 The limpid stream with growing force,
Swells to a river in its course;

Through desert lands its windings play,
And bear down blessings all the way.

3 Close by its banks in varied guise,
The blooming trees of life arise;
Their blossoms fragrant odours give,
And on their fruit the nations live.

F

4 Flow wond'rous stream with glory crown'd, Flow on to earth's remotest bound; And bear us on thy gentle wave,

To Him who all thy virtues gave.

51.

HOSEA vi. 1-4.

1 COME, let us to the Lord our God,

with contrite hearts return:

Our God is gracious, nor will leave
the desolate to mourn.

2 His voice commands the tempest forth,
and stills the stormy wave;

And though his arm be strong to smite,
'tis also strong to save.

3 Long hath the night of sorrow reign'd;
the dawn shall bring us light;
God shall appear, and we shall rise
with gladness in his sight.

4 Our hearts, if God we seek to know,
shall know him and rejoice;

His coming like the morn shall be,
like morning songs his voice.

5 As dew upon the tender herb,
diffusing fragrance round;

As showers that usher in the Spring,
and cheer the thirsty ground:

6 So shall his presence bless our souls,
and shed a joyful light;

That hallow'd morn shall chase away
the sorrows of the night.

58.

HOSEA vi. 4.

1 THY just reproofs, O God! we own,
our faithless hearts deplore;

And while we view thy patient love,
we see our guilt the more.

2 Inconstant service we repay,

and thoughtless vows renew;
Inconstant as the morning cloud,
and transient as the dew.

3 But now to thee with contrite hearts,
we give our future days;
And daily we will seek thy grace,
to keep us in thy ways.

4 Thus shall we stedfastly proceed,
rejoicing in thy love;

And, with delight increasing, press
on to thy courts above.

5 So by thy power the morning sun,
pursues his radiant way;

Brightens each moment in his course,
and shines to perfect day.

59.

MICAH vi. 6-9.

1 SHALL clouds of incense to the skies,

with grateful odour speed;

Or victims from a thousand hills,
upon the altar bleed?

2 Does justice nobler blood demand, to save the sinner's life;

Shall, trembling, in his offspring's side
the father plunge the knife?

3 No: God rejects the bloody rites,
which blindfold zeal began;
His oracles of truth proclaim

the message brought to man.

4 He what is good hath clearly shown, O favour'd race! to thee;

And what doth God require of those
who bend to him the knee?

5 Thy deeds let sacred justice rule,
thy heart let mercy fill;
And, walking humbly with thy God,
to him resign thy will.

60.

HABAK. iii. 17, 18.

1 WHAT though no flowers the fig-tree clothe,

the fields no meat supply; Although with want or dire disease, my wasting flocks should die?

2 In darkest scenes I'll trust in God,
and in his love rejoice;

To him, in faith of better days,
I'll lift a grateful voice.

3 He to my tardy feet shall lend
the swiftness of the roe;

Till rais'd on high I safely dwell, beyond the reach of woe.

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