3 I hoped that in some favour'd hour,
At once He'd answer my request;
And by his love's constraining power,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.
4 Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part.
5 Yea more, with his own hand He seem'd Intent to aggravate my wo;
Cross'd all the fair designs I schemed, Blasted my gourds, and laid me low. 6 Lord, why is this? I trembling cry'd, Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death? ""Tis in this way," the Lord reply'd, "I answer prayer for grace and faith. 7" These inward trials I employ,
From self and pride to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may'st seek thy all in Me."
386.
1 IN duties and in sufferings too,
My Lord I fain would trace;
As Thou hast done, so would I do,
Depending on thy grace.
2 Inflamed with zeal, 'twas thy delight
To do thy Father's will;
May the same zeal my soul excite,
Thy precepts to fulfil.
3 Meekness, humility, and love,
Through all thy conduct shine;
O may my whole deportment prove
A copy, Lord, of thine.
Following hard after God.
1 By every means, in every way,
My soul shall seek the Lord;
At home, abroad, by night, by day,
Till He his grace afford.
2 Does He retire? I'll still pursue,
And mend my heavy pace,
Till with rejoicing eyes I view
His lovely, smiling face.
3 I with his people will attend,
Expecting Him to see;
Jesus, my Saviour, and my friend,
O come and visit me!
4 Were I of all the world possess'd,
I would the whole resign,
If I might only once be bless'd,
And say that Thou art mine.
Teachings of the Spirit.
1 COME, blessed Spirit, source of light,
Whose power and grace are unconfined,
Dispel the gloomy shades of night,
The thicker darkness of the mind.
2 To mine illumined eyes display
The glorious truth thy word reveals,
Cause me to run the heavenly way,
The book unfold, and loose the seals.
3 Thine inward teachings make me know
The mysteries of redeeming love,
The emptiness of things below,
And excellence of things above.
While through this dubious maze I stray,
Spread, like the sun thy beams abroad,
To show the dangers of the way,
And guide my feeble steps to God.
The Christian's hidden life.
1 LET sinners boast of kindred joys, The poor delights of sense;
'Tis Christ our inmost thoughts employs,
We draw our comforts thence.
2 With sweet contentment now we bid
Farewell to pleasures here;
With Christ in God our life is hid,
And all its springs are there.
3 'Tis now conceal'd and lodged secure
In God's eternal Son;
From age to age shall it endure,
Though to the world unknown.
4 Jesus, remove whate'er divides
Our lingering souls from Thee;
'Tis fit that where the head resides
The members too should be.
The water of life.
THE fountain in its source,
No drought of summer fears;
The farther it pursues its course,
The nobler it appears.
2 But shallow cisterns yield
A scanty, short supply;
The morning sees them amply fill'd,
At evening they are dry.
The cisterns I forsake,
O Fount of bliss, for Thee;
My thirst with living waters slake,
And drink eternity.
God omnipresent.—(A Child's reflection.)
I AMONG the deepest shades of night,
Can there be one who sees my way?
Yes;-God is like a shining light,
That turns the darkness into day.
2 When every eye around me sleeps,
May I not sin without control?
No; for a constant watch He keeps,
On every thought of every soul.
3 If I could find some cave unknown,
Where human feet had never trod,
Yet there I could not be alone;
On every side there would be GOD.
4 He smiles in heaven; He frowns in hell;
He fills the air, the earth, the sea:-
I must within his presence dwell;
I cannot from his anger flee.
5 Yet I may flee-He shows me where;
Tells me to Jesus Christ to fly:
And while He sees me weeping there,
There's only mercy in his eye.
1 My Saviour dear, Thou for my good
Wert pleased a child to be;
And Thou didst shed thy precious blood
Upon the cross for me.
2 Come then, and take this heart of mine, Come take me as I am;
I know that I by right am thine,
Thou loving, gracious Lamb.
3 Down at thy feet still may I bow,
Be thine, my Saviour, still;
In nothing bad myself allow,
Nor ever show self-will.
4 But I am weak, the ill to shun,
And good I cannot do;
Help me, O Thou Almighty One!
Help my companions too.
5 Preserve our little hearts secure
From every hurt and stain;
First make them, and then keep them pure,
And shut to all that's vain.
6 If early Thou wilt take me hence,
O, that no harm will be!
Into thy arms I'll go at once,
And ever live with Thee.
7 If Thou wilt have me longer stay,
In years and stature grow;
Help me to serve Thee night and day,
While I am here below.
8 Then, after walking in thy ways,
And serving Thee in love,
Put a bless'd end unto my days,
And kiss me there above.
Trust in God in old age.
1 ALMIGHTY Father of mankind,
On 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 caused'st me to hope,
When life began to beat;
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