3 Thy providence is kind and large, Both man and beast Thy bounty

share;

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 spring!

The sons of Adam, in distress,
Fly to the shadow of Thy wing.

5 From the provisions of Thy house
We shall be fed with sweet repast;
There mercy like a river flows,
And brings salvation to our taste.
6 Life, like a fountain rich and free,
Springs from the presence of the
Lord;

And in Thy light our souls shall see
The glories promised in Thy word.

56

C.M.

Thou art my trust from my youth.
PSA. lxxi. 5.

1 ALMIGHTY Father of mankind,

In Thee my hopes remain ; And, when the day of trouble comes, I shall not trust in vain.

2 In early years Thou wast my Guide, And of my youth the Friend; And as my days began with Thee, With Thee my days shall end. 3 I know the power in whom I trust, The arm on which I lean; He will my Saviour ever be,

Who has my Saviour been. 4 My God, who causedst me to hope When life began to beat;

And, when a stranger in the world,
Didst guide my wandering feet:

5 Thou wilt not cast me off when age And evil days descend;

6

Thou wilt not leave me in despair, To mourn my latter end. Therefore in life I'll trust in Thee, In death I will adore;

And, after death, will sing Thy praise When time shall be no more.

MICHAEL BRUCE. 1766.

The common blessings of His love; But the wide difference that remains

Is endless joy, or endless pains.

When hoary hairs arise;

And round me let Thy glory shine,

Whene'er Thy servant dies.

ISAAC WATTS. 1719.

ISAAC WATTS.

1719.

Nor comprehend the mystery

Of Thine unbounded grace.

2 Here the dark veils of flesh and sense My captive soul surround; Mysterious deeps of Providence

My wondering thoughts confound.
3 When I behold, Thine awful hand
My earthly hopes destroy,
In deep astonishment I stand,
And ask the reason why.

4 As through a glass I dimly see
The wonders of Thy love;
How little do I know of Thee,
Or of the joys above!

5 'Tis but in part I know Thy will;
I bless Thee for the sight;
When will Thy love the rest reveal,
In glory's clearer light?

On Thy supporting hand; Darkness and day, from east to west, Move round at Thy command.

4 Thy words the raging winds control, And rule the boisterous deep; Thou mak'st the sleeping billows roll, The rolling billows sleep.

To dart a pestilential fire,

Thou art my life; Thy wings are

spread

To shield me with a healthful shade. 4 If vapours, with malignant breath, Rise thick and scatter midnight death,

Israel is safe; the poisoned air Grows pure, if Israel's God be there. 5 But if the fire, or plague, or sword, Receive commission from the Lord To strike His saints among the rest, Their very pain and death is blest. 6 The sword, the pestilence, or fire, Shall but fulfil our best desire ; From sins and sorrows set us free, And bring Thy children, Lord, to Thee.

64

1

ISAAC WATTS. 1719.

C.M.

The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble. PSA. xcix. 1.

road,

Were into motion brought,

All the long years and worlds to

groweth,

1

PSA. Cvii. 7.

IVE thanks to God; He reigns above; [Love; Kind are His thoughts, His name is His mercy ages past have known, And ages long to come shall own. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord

The wonders of His grace record; Israel, the nation whom he chose, And rescued from their mighty foes. 3 From age to age exalt His name; God and His grace are still the same; He fills the hungry soul with food, And feeds the poor with every good. 4 He feeds and clothes us all the way, He guides our footsteps lest we stray, He guards us with a powerful hand, And brings us to the heavenly land. 5 0 let the saints with joy record

The truth and goodness of the Lord; How great His works! how kind His ways! [praise. Let every tongue pronounce His ISAAC WATTS. 1719.

69 He bringeth them unto their desired

Supported by Thy care,

Through burning climes they pass unhurt,

And breathe in tainted air.

3 When by the dreadful tempest borne High on the broken wave, They know Thou art not slow to hear,

Nor impotent to save.

4 The storm is laid, the winds retire, Obedient to Thy will:

The sea, that roars at Thy command,
At Thy command is still.

5 In midst of dangers, fears, and deaths,

6

Thy goodness we'll adore;

We'll praise Thee for Thy mercies past,

And humbly hope for more.

Our life, if Thou preserve that life, Thy sacrifice shall be;

And death, when death shall be our lot,

70

1

2

Shall join our souls to Thec.

JOSEPH ADDISON. 1712.

C.M.

The Lord is thy keeper.-PSA. cxxi. 5.

To heaven I lift my waiting cres,

There all my are laid:

The Lord, that built the earth and skies,

Is my perpetual aid.

Their feet shall never slide to fall,
Whom He designs to keep:

His ear attends the softest call;
His eye can never sleep.

3 He will sustain our weakest powers
With His almighty arm;
And watch our most unguarded
hours

Against surprising harm.

4 Israel, rejoice, and rest secure,

Thy keeper is the Lord;

His wakeful eyes employ His power For thine eternal guard.