I WOULD love thee, God and Father!
My Redeemer, and my King!
I would love thee; for, without thee,
Life is but a bitter thing.

I would love thee; every blessing
Flows to me from out thy throne:
I would love thee- he who loves thee
Never feels himself alone.

3 I would love thee; look upon me,
Ever guide me with thine eye:
I would love thee; if not nourished
By thy love, my soul would die.

I would love thee; may thy brightness
Dazzle my rejoicing eyes!

I would love thee; may thy goodness Watch from heaven o'er all I prize. 5 I would love thee, I have vowed it; On thy love my heart is set: While I love thee, I will never My Redeemer's blood forget.

I LOVE the Lord; he heard my cries,
And pitied every groan:
Long as I live, when troubles rise,
I'll hasten to his throne.

? I love the Lord; he bowed his ear,
And chased my grief away:
Oh, let my heart no more despair,
While I have breath to pray!

3 The Lord beheld me sore distressed,
He bade my pains remove:
Return, my soul, to God, thy rest,
For thou hast known his love!

4 My God hath saved my soul from death, And dried my falling tears;

Now to his praise I'll spend my breath And my remaining years.

2 When all created streams are dried,
Thy fullness is the same:
May I with this be satisfied,

And glory in thy name!

3 No good in creatures can be found,
But what is found in thee:

I must have all things and abound
While God is God to me.

4 Oh that I had a stronger faith,
To look within the vail,

To credit what my Saviour saith,
Whose word can never fail.

5 He who has made my heaven secure,
Will here all good provide:
While Christ is rich, can I be poor?
What can I want beside?

6 O Lord, I cast my care on thee;
I triumph and adore:

Henceforth my great concern shall be To love and please thee more.

652

“Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee."

1 O God, thou art my God alone: Early to thee my soul shall cry A pilgrim in a land unknown,

L. M.

A thirsty land, whose springs are dry.

2 Oh that it were as it hath been, When, praying in the holy place, Thy power and glory I have seen, And marked the footsteps of thy grace! 3 Yet, through this rough and thorny maze, I follow hard on thee, my God: Thy hand unseen upholds my ways; I safely tread where thou hast trod. 4 Thee, in the watches of the night, When I remember on my bed,

Thy presence makes the darkness light; Thy guardian wings are round my head.

5 Better than life itself thy love, Dearer than all beside to me;

For whom have I in heaven above,

Or what on earth, compared with thee?
C. M. 81

“My soul thirsteth for Thee."
Psalm 63.

1 Он, who is like the Mighty One,

Whose throne is in the sky! Who compasseth the universe With his all-searching eye;

At whose creative word appeared
The dry land and the sea:
My spirit thirsts for thee, O Lord,
My spirit thirsts for thee!

2 Around him suns and systems swim
In harmony and light;
Before him harps angelic hymn
His praises day and night;
Yet to the contrite, day and night,
In mercy turneth he:

My spirit thirsts for thee, O Lord,
My spirit thirsts for thee!
Yes! though unlimited his works,
His power upholds them all;
He clothes the lilies of the field,

And marks the sparrow's fall:
Who listens to the raven's cry,

Will bend his ear to me;
My spirit thirsts for thee, O Lord,
My spirit thirsts for thee!

654 “When shall I come and appear before God?" C. M.

Psalm 42.

1 As pants the hart for cooling streams,
When heated in the chase;
So longs my soul, O God, for thee,
And thy refreshing grace.

2 For thee, my God, the living God,
My thirsty soul doth pine;
Oh! when shall I behold thy face,
Thou Majesty divine?

3 Why restless, why cast down, my soul? Trust God; and he'll employ

His aid for thee, and change these sighs To thankful hymns of joy.

4 Why restless, why cast down, my soul? Hope still; and thou shalt sing

The praise of him who is thy God,
Thy health's eternal spring.

2

My times are in Thy hand."
Psalm 31.

My times are in thy hand:

S. I

My God! I wish them there;

My life, my friends, my soul, I leave
Entirely to thy care.

"My times are in thy hand,"
Whatever they may be;
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,
As best may seem to thee.

3 "My times are in thy hand;'
Why should I doubt or fear?
My Father's hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.

4 "My times are in thy hand,"
Jesus, the crucified!

The hand my cruel sins had pierced,
Is now my guard and guide.

5 "My times are in thy hand;
I'll always trust in thee;

657

And, after death, at thy right hand I shall forever be.

"My times are in Thy hand.”
Psalm 31.

1 SOVEREIGN Ruler of the skies,
Ever gracious, ever wise!
All my times are in thy hand;
All events at thy command.

2 Times of sickness, times of health,
Times of penury and wealth, -
All must come, and last, and end,
As shall please my heavenly Friend.
3 O Thou gracious, wise, and just!
In thy hands my life I trust;
Have I somewhat dearer still?
I resign it to thy will.

76.

LORD, what is man! that child of pride, That boasts his high degree!

If left one moment to himself

He sinks and where is he?
In thee I live and move and am;
Thou dealest out my days:
Lord, as thou dost renew my life,
Let me renew thy praise.

To thee I come, from thee I am,
For thee I still would be;
'Tis better for me not to live,

Than not to live to thee.

Thou art my living fountain, Lord;
On me thy streams still flow;

Myself I render up to thee,
To whom myself I owe.

1 VAINLY through night's weary hours,
Keep we watch, lest foes alarm;
Vain our bulwarks, and our towers,
But for God's protecting arm.

2 Vain were all our toil and labor,
Did not God that labor bless;
Vain, without his grace and favor,
Every talent we possess.

3 Vainer still the hope of heaven,
That on human strength relies;
But to him shall help be given,
Who in humble faith applies.
4 Seek we, then, the Lord's Anointed;
He shall grant us peace and rest:
Ne'er was suppliant disappointed,
Who to Christ his prayer addressed.

2 Oh, let thy love within us dwell,
Thy fear our footsteps guide;
That love shall vainer loves expel,
That fear all fears beside.

3 And since, by passion's force subdued,
Too oft with stubborn will
We blindly shun the latent good,
And grasp the specious ill;

4 Not what we wish, but what we want,
Let mercy still supply:

The good we ask not, Father, grant;
The ill we ask, deny.

661 “Draw us, and we will run after Thee." S. M. 1 ALONG my earthly way

How many clouds are spread!

Darkness, with scarce one cheerful ray,
Seems gathering o'er my head.

2 Yet, Father, thou art Love;
Oh, hide not from my view!
But when I look, in prayer, above,
Appear in mercy through!

3 My pathway is not hid;

Thou knowest all my need;
And I would do as Israel did,·
Follow where thou wilt lead.

4 Lead me, and then my feet
Shall never, never stray;
But safely I shall reach the seat
Of happiness and day.

5 And, oh! from that bright throne
I shall look back, and see,

The path I went, and that alone,
Was the right path for me.

1 WHITHER, oh, whither should I fly, But to my loving Father's breast! Secure within thine arms to lie,

L. M.

And safe beneath thy wings to rest!

2 In all my ways thy hand I own,
Thy ruling providence I sce:
Assist me still my course to run,
And still direct my paths to thee.
3 I have no skill the snare to shun;
But thou, O God, my wisdom art;
I ever into ruin run;

But thou art greater than my heart.

4 Foolish, and impotent, and blind,

Lead me a way I have not known; Bring me where I my heaven may find, The heaven of loving thee alone.

Oh, seal the rich, the boundless grant, And make me fully blest!

1 Tпou, O Lord, wilt never leave me, Thou wilt never me forsake;

Thou wilt keep, and thou wilt save me, While thy word my guide I make: Save from evil

For thy name and mercy's sake!

2 When my soul is dark and clouded,
Torn with doubt, and worn with care,
Through the vail by which 't is shrouded,
Light from heaven will soon appear;
And thy presence

Banish every doubt and fear.
3 When my sky above is glowing,
And around me all is bright;
Pleasure; like a river flowing,
Fills my soul with sweet delight:
Thou wilt keep me,

Thou wilt guide my steps aright.

4 When my feeble flame is dying,
And my soul about to soar

To that land where pain and sighing
Shall be heard and known no more,
Thou wilt fill me

With thy presence evermore.

667 "O Lord, save me, and I shall be saved.”

C. M.

668

"Dear Refuge of my weary soul.”

1 DEAR Refuge of my weary soul,
On thee, when sorrows rise

On thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting hope relies.

2 To thee I tell each rising grief,
For thou alone canst heal;
Thy word can bring a sweet relief
For every pain I feel.

3 Hast thou not bid me seek thy face? And shall I seek in vain?

And can the ear of sovereign grace Be deaf when I complain?

4 No: still the ear of sovereign grace Attends the mourner's prayer; Oh, may I ever find access

To breathe my sorrows there!

5 Thy mercy-seat is open still;

Here let my soul retreat,

With humble hope attend thy will,
And wait beneath thy feet.

1 No change of time shall ever shock My trust, O Lord, in thee;

For thou hast always been my Rock A sure defense to me.

2 Thou my deliv'rer art, O God;

My trust is in thy power:
Thou art my shield from foes abroad,
My safeguard, and my tower.

3 To thee will I address my prayer,
To whom all praise I owe;
So shall I, by thy watchful care,
Be saved from every foe.

4 Then let Jehovah be adored,
On whom my hopes depend;
For who, except the mighty Lord,
His people can defend?

1 FROM lowest depths of woe,
To God I send my cry:
Lord! hear my supplicating voice,
And graciously reply,

2 Shouldst thou severely judge,
Who can the trial bear?

But thou forgiv'st, lest we despond
And quite renounce thy fear.

3 My soul with patience_waits
For thee, the living Lord;

My hopes are on thy promise built,
Thy never-failing word.

4 My longing eyes look out

For thine enlivening ray,

More duly than the morning watch
To spy the dawning day.

5 Let Israel trust in God;

No bounds his mercy knows

S. M.