And bid the choral song ascend 160. C. M. Purposes of God developed by his Providence. He plants his footsteps in the sea, 2 Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; 3 Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, 4 His purposes will ripen fast, The bud may have a bitter taste, COWPER. SPIRIT OF THE PSALMS. 1 ERE mountains reared their forms sublime, 2 A thousand ages, in their flight, 3 But our brief life 's a shadowy dream, Foreknowledge and Providence of God. 1 LET the whole race of creatures lie WATTS. Whate'er his powerful hand has formed, 2 Ten thousand ages ere the skies All the long years and worlds to come 3 There's not a sparrow, nor a worm, He raises monarchs to a throne, 4 If light attend the course we go, And 't is his hand that hides the sun, 5 Trusting thy wisdom, God of love! What, in the book of thy decrees, 6 Be this alone our fervent prayer; Or joys, or sorrows, - may they form Our souls for heaven and thee! 1 IN all my vast concerns with thee, To shun thy presence, Lord, or flee 2 Thine all-surrounding sight surveys My public walks, my private ways, 3 My thoughts lie open to the Lord, WATTS. 4 O, wondrous knowledge, deep and high ! 5 So let thy grace surround me still, To guard my soul from every ill, 164. L. M. Perfections and Providence of God. WATTS 1 HIGH in the heavens, Eternal God! 2 For ever firm thy justice stands, As mountains their foundations keep; 3 Thy providence is kind and large; The whole creation is thy charge, But saints are thy peculiar care. 4 My God! how excellent thy grace, Whence all our hope and comfort springs ! The sons of Adam in distress Fly to the shadow of thy wings. 5 Life, like a fountain, rich and free, 165. L. M. 6 L. God good and omniscient. MONTGOMERY. 1 HOW precious are thy thoughts of peace, O God! to me, how great the sum ! New every morn, they never cease; They were, they are, and yet shall come, Than ocean's sand, or ocean's shore. 2 Search me, O God! and know my heart; 166. 1 THY C. M. The Ways of God inscrutable. way, O God! is in the sea; Thy paths I cannot trace, Nor comprehend the mystery Of thine unbounded grace. 2 Here the dark veils of flesh and sense FAWCETT. 3 As, through a glass, I dimly see 4 Though but in part I know thy will, 1 GOD is love; his mercy brightens 2 Chance and change are busy ever; 3 E'en the hour that darkest seemeth BOWRING. Will his changeless goodness prove; 4 He with earthly cares entwineth 168. C. M. Goodness of God. GIBBONS. 1 THY goodness, Lord, our souls confess; Thy goodness we adore ; |