The promise may be long delay'd,
But cannot come too late.
WHEN all thy mercies, O my God, My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.
Thy providence my life sustain'd,
And all my wants redrest,
When in the silent womb I lay,
And hung upon the breast.
Unnumber'd comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestow'd,
Before my infant-heart conceiv'd
From whom those comforts flow'd.
When in the slipp'ry paths of youth
With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm, unseen, convey'd me safe,
And led me on to man.
When worn by sickness, oft hast thou With health renew'd my face; And when in sips and sorrows sunk, Reviv'd my soul with grace.
Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss
Has made my cup run o'er,
And in a kind and faithful friend
Has doubled all my store,
Thro' ev'ry period of my life
Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.
When nature fails, and day and night
Divide thy works no more,
My ever-grateful heart, O Lord,
Thy mercy shall adore.
Thro' all eternity to thee
A joyful song I'll raise;
But O! eternity's too short
To utter all thy praise.
LORD, how mysterious are thy ways!
How blind are we, how mean our praise!
Thy steps can mortal eyes explore?
'Tis ours to wonder and adore.
Thy deep decrees from creature sight
Are hid in shades of awful night;
Amid the lines, with curious eye,
Not angel-minds presume to pry.
Great God! I would not ask to see
What in futurity shall be;
If light and bliss attend my days,
Then let my future hours be praise.
Is darkness and distress my share?
Then let me trust thy guardian care;
Enough for me, if love divine
At length thro' ev'ry cloud shall shine.
Yet this my soul desires to know,
Be this my only wish below,
That Christ is mine!'-This great request Grant, bounteous God, and I am blest,
192. Omnipotence and Grace.
GIVE thanks to God most high,
The universal Lord,
The sov'reign King of Kings,
His pow'r and grace
Are still the same;
And let his name
Have endless praise.
How mighty is his hand!
What wonders hath he done!
He form'd the earth and seas,
And spread the heav'ns alone:
Thy mercy, Lord,
Shall still endure;
And ever sure
Abides thy word.
His wisdom fram'd the sun
To crown the day with light;
The moon and twinkling stars
To cheer the darksome night,
His pow'r and grace
Are still the same;
And let his name
Have endless praise.
He saw the nations lie
All perishing in sin,
And pity'd the sad state
The ruin'd 'world was in.
Thy mercy, Lord,
Shall still endure;
And ever sure
Abides thy word.
He sent his only Son
To save us from our woe,
From Satan, sin, and death,
And ev'ry hurtful foe.
His pow'r and grace
Are still the same;
And let his name
Have endless praise.
Give thanks aloud to God,
To God the heav'nly King,
And let the spacious earth
His works and glories sing.
Thy mercy, Lord,
Shall still endure;
And ever sure
Abides thy word.
193. God's gracious Corrections.
How gracious and how wise
Is our chastising God!
And O! how rich the blessings are
Which blossom from his rod!
He lifts it up on high,
With pity in his heart,
That ev'ry stroke his children feel
May grace and peace impart.
Instructed thus they bow,
And own his sov'reign sway; They turn their erring footsteps back To his forsaken way.
His cov'nant love they seek,
And seek the happy bands,
That closer still engage their hearts
To honour his commands.
Dear Father, we consent
To discipline divine;
And bless the pains that make our souls
Still more completely thine.
SOV'REIGN Ruler of the skies,
Ever gracious, ever wise!
All my times are in thy hand,
All events at thy command.
His decree who form'd the earth
Fix'd my first and second birth:
Parents, native place, and time,
All appointed were by him.
He that form'd me in the womb,
He shall guide me to the tomb:
All my times shall ever be
Order'd by his wise decree.
Times of sickness, times of health;
penury and wealth;
|