my safeguard and my stay, My God in whom I will confide.
His watchful love, and tender care,
Shall free thee from the Hunter's snare,
His wings shall cover thee abroad,
Sweetly, and safely shalt thou rest;
How should mischance, or ill molest
Him, who hath found his home in God.
From noon-day shafts, and plagues, that fly Abroad upon the midnight sky,
To shield thee, He shall give command; And day, and night, their watch to keep Above thy waking, and thy sleep
Shall the bright hosts of glory stand.
In fiery leaguer round about
Thy coming in, and going out,
They'll wait in loving ministry,
To keep thee in Thy journeyings,
Then bear thee upward on their wings,
Till thou hast sat thee down on high,
Yea, since thine hope is in the sky,
Thou shalt have strength, and victory;
God has thine heritage prepared,
In His pavilion shalt thou dwell,
And taste of joy unspeakable,
Himself thy portion, and reward.
LORD of hosts, how happy he
Who has sought repose in Thee!
Sheltered 'neath th' Almighty wings,
Guarded by the King of kings.
Thou, oh Lord, my refuge art,
Draw to Thee this wayward heart,
Bid me dwell in loving rest
In the covert of Thy breast.
Manifold the ills, and woes,
Which the sons of God enclose;
Plagues, that walk the sullen night,
Shafts, that fly in noon-day light:
Here his snares the fowler plies;
There temptations darkly rise;
Lord, though thousands round me fall,
Help, and I am saved from all.
How should he be overcome,
Who has found in Thee a home?
Round him in a fiery band,
Ministering angels stand;
Safe he speeds his conquering way,
Where the lion lurks to slay;
Treads the crested dragon down,
Haste'ning to his heavenly crown.
Hark, the voice of Love divine,
"Fear not, trembler, thou art mine;
Fear not; I am at thy side,
Strong to succour, sure to guide;
Call on me in want, or woe,
I will guard thee here below,
And thy days of conflict past
Bear thee to myself at last.”
CALL Jehovah thy salvation,
Rest beneath the Almighty's shade; In his secret habitation
Dwell, nor ever be dismayed:
There no tumult can alarm thee;
Thou shalt dread no hidden snare;
Guile, nor violence can harm thee,
In eternal safeguard there.
From the sword at noonday wasting,
From the noisome pestilence,-
In the depth of midnight blasting,-
God shall be thy sure defence:
Fear not thou the deadly quiver,
When a thousand feel the blow;
Mercy shall thy soul deliver,
Though ten thousand be laid low.
Only with thine eye, the anguish
Of the wicked thou shalt see,
When by slow disease they languish,
When they perish suddenly :
Thee, though winds, and waves be swelling,
God, thine hope shall bear through all;
Plague shall not come nigh thy dwelling;
Thee no evil shall befal.
He shall charge his angel-legions
Watch, and ward o'er thee to keep;
Though thou walk through hostile regions,
Though in desert-wilds thou sleep;
On the lion, vainly roaring,
On his young thy foot shall tread,
And, the dragon's den exploring,
Thou shalt bruise the serpent's head.
Since, with pure, and firm affection
Thou on God hast set thy love,
With the wings of His protection
He will shield thee from above;
Thou shalt call on Him in trouble,
He will hearken,—He will save, Here for grief reward thee double, Crown with life beyond the grave.
THERE is a safe, and secret place,
Beneath the wings divine,
Reserved for all the heirs of grace,-
Oh, be that refuge mine!
The least, the feeblest there may bide,
Uninjured, and unawed;
While thousands fall on every side,
He rests secure in God.
The angels watch him on his way,
And aid with friendly arm.
And Satan, roaring for his prey,
May hate, but cannot harm.
He feeds in pastures large, and fair,
Of love, and truth divine;
Oh child of God, oh glory's heir,
How rich a lot is thine!
A hand Almighty to defend,
An ear for every cali,
An honoured life, a peaceful end,
And heaven, to crown it all.
WITH glory clad, with strength arrayed, The Lord, that o'er all nature reigns,
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