3 Thy judgments, Lord, are always right,
Though they may seem severe :
The sharpest sufferings we endure
Flow from thy faithful care.
4 Before we knew thy chastening rod,
Our feet were apt to stray;
Now may we learn to keep thy word,
Nor wander from thy way.
HYMN XCVII.
Trust in God under trouble.
COMMIT thou all thy ways
And griefs into his hands,
To his sure truth and tender care
Who heav'n and earth commands.
2 Who points the clouds their course,
Whom winds and seas obey,
He shall direct thy wand'ring feet,
He shall prepare thy way.
3 No profit canst thou gain
By self-consuming care,
To him commend thy cause, his ear
Attends the softest prayer.
Give to the winds thy fears,
Hope and be undismay'd;
God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears,
He will lift up thy head.
Through waves and clouds and storms
He'll gently clear thy way;
Wait thou his time, so shall this night
Soon end in joyous day
Leave to his sovereign sway
To choose and to command,
So shalt thou, grateful, own bis way
Is wise, and strong his hand.
Weeping seed-time, joyful harvest.
1 THE darken'd sky, how thick it lowers!
Troubled with storms, and big with showers!
No cheerful gleam of light appears,
But nature pours forth all her tears.
2 Yet let the sons of grace revive,
God bids the soul that seeks him live ;
And from the gloomiest shade of night
Calls forth a morning of delight.
3 The seeds of extacy unknown,
Are in these water'd furrows sown ;
See the green blades how thick they rise,
And with fresh verdure bless our eyes.
4 In secret foldings they contain
Unnumber'd ears of golden grain ;
And heav'n shall pour its beams around,
Till the ripe harvest load the ground.
5 Then shall the trembling mourner come,
And find his sheaves, and bear them home;
The voice long broke with sighs shall sing,
Till heav'n with Hallelujahs sing.
HYMN XCIX.
Wait on the Lord.
1 WAIT on the Lord, ye heirs of hope,
And let his word support your souls,
Well can he bear your courage up,
And all your foes and fears control.
2 He waits his own well-chosen hour
Th' intended mercy to display,
And his paternal bowels move
While wisdom dictates the delay.
3 With mingled majesty and love,
At length he rises from his throne;
And while salvation he commands,
He makes his people's joy his own.
4 Blest are the humble souls that wait
With sweet submission to his will;
Harmonious all their passions move,
And in the midst of storms are still.
5 Still, till their Father's well known voice Wakens their silence into songs;
Then earth grows vocal with his praise, And heav'n the grateful shout prolongs.
Trusting in him who careth for us.
HOW gentle God's commands !
How kind his precepts are!
"Come, cast your burdens ou the Lord,
And trust his constant care.
While providence supports
Let saints securely dwell;
That hand, which bears all nature up,
Shall guide his children well.
3 Then let no anxious load
Press down your weary mind;
Haste to your heav'nly Father's throne,
And sweet refreshment find.
His goodness stands approv'd
Down to the present day;
Then drop your burdens at his feet,
And bear a song away.
God the comfort of the pious poor 1 PRAISE to the Sovereign of the sky, Who from his lofty throne
Looks down on all that humble lie,
And calls such souls his own.
The haughty sinner he disdains,
Though gems his temples crown;
And from the seat of pomp and pride,
His vengeance hurls him down.
3 On his afflicted pious poor
He makes his face to shine;
He fills their cottages of clay
With lustre all divine.
4 Among the meanest of thy flock
There let my dwelling be,
Rather than under gilded roofs,
If absent, Lord, from thee.
A living and dead faith compared.
1 MISTAKEN souls! who dream of heaven,
And make their empty boast
Of inward joys and sins forgiven,
While they are slaves in lust.
2 The faith, which purifies the heart,
The faith which works by love,
Which bids our sinful joys depart,
And lifts our thoughts above :
3 The faith, which conquers earth and hell By a celestial power;
This is the grace which shall prevail
In the decisive hour.
HYMN CHII.
The Christian warfare.
1 AWAKE, my soul, lift up thine eyes;
See where thy foes against thee rise,
In long array, a numerous host;
Awake my soul, or thou art lost.
2 See where rebellious passions rage,
And fierce desires and lusts engage;
The meanest foe of all the train
Has thousands and ten thousands slain.
3 Thou tread'st upon enchanted ground,
Perils and snares beset thee round;
Beware of all, guard every part,
But most the traitor in thy heart.
4 Come then, my soul, now learn to wield The weight of thine immortal shield; Put on the armour from above
Of heavenly truth and heavenly love. 5 The terror and the charm repel, And powers of earth, and powers of hell; The Man of Calv'ry triumph'd here; Why should his faithful followers fear?
The Christian's resolution.
1 AH wretched souls, who still remain
Slaves to the world, and slaves to sin!
A nobler toil may we sustain,
A nobler satisfaction win.
2 May we resolve with all our heart,
With all our powers to serve the Lord;
Nor from his precepts e'er depart,
Whose service is a rich reward.
3 O be his service all our joy,
Around let our example shine,
Till others love the blest employ,
And join in labours so divine.
4 Be this the purpose of our soul,
Our solemn, our determin'd choice,
To yield to his supreme control,
And in his kind commands rejoice.
5 O may we never faint nor tire,
Nor wandering leave his sacred ways;
Great God, accept our soul's desire,
And give us strength to love thy praise,
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