3 How eagerly they wish to know
The duties he would have them do:
What joy their active spirits feel,
To execute their Sovereign's will!
Hither, at his command, they fly
To guard the beds on which we lie;
To shield our persons night and day,
And scatter all our fears away.

5 Send, O my God, some angel down, (Though to a mortal eye unknown,) To guide and guard my doubtful way Up to the realms of endless day.

64.

C. M.

The soul. Mark viii. 36. HAT is the thing of greatest price, The whole creation round?

WH

That which was lost in Paradise,
That which in Christ is found:

2 The soul of man-Jehovah's breath
That keeps two worlds at strife;
Hell moves beneath to work its death,
Heaven stoops to give it life.

3 God, to redeem it, did not spare
His well beloved Son;

esus, to save it, deign'd to bear
The sins of all in one.

4 And is this treasure borne below,
In earthen vessels frail?

Can none its utmost value know,
Till flesh and spirit fail?

Then let us gather round the cross,
That knowledge to obtain;

Not by the soul's eternal loss,
But everlasting gain.

65.

1

PROVIDENCE OF GOD.

(71.) C. M.

Volume of divine providence.

LE ET the whole race of creatures lie

Abas'd before the Lord! Whate'er his pow'rful hand has form'd, He governs with a word.

2 Ten thousand ages ere the skies
Were into motion brought,

All the long years and worlds to come
Stood present to his thought.

3 There's not a sparrow or a worm
O'erlook'd in his decrees,
He raises monarchs to a throne,
Or sinks with equal ease.

4 If light attend the course I go,
'Tis he provides the rays;
And 'tis his hand that hides the sun,
If darkness cloud my days.

5 Trusting his wisdom and his love,
I would not wish to know,
What in the book of his decrees
Awaits me here below.

6 Be this alone my fervent pray'r:
Whate'er my lot shall be,

Or joys, or sorrows, may they form
My soul for heav'n and thee!

66.

(72.) C. M.

God's dispensations merciful. THE Lord, how fearful is his name!

How wide is his command!

Nature, with all her moving frame,
Rests on his mighty hand.

2 Immortal glory forms his throne,
And light his awful robe,

Whilst, with a smile or with a frown,
He manages the globe.

3 Adoring angels round him fall,
In all their shining forms.

His sov'reign eye looks thro' them all,
And pities mortal worms.

4 His bowels to our worthless race
In sweet compassion move;

He clothes his looks with softest grace,
And takes his title, love.

5 Now, let the Lord for ever reign,
And sway us as he will.

Sick, or in health, in ease, or pain,
We are his fav'rites still.

67.

G

(75.)

L. M.

God provides for all.

REATEST of beings, source of life,
Sov'reign of air, and earth, and sea!
All nature feels thy pow'r; but man
A grateful tribute pays to thee.

2 Subject to wants, to thee he looks,

And from thy goodness seeks supplies; And, when oppress'd with guilt, he mourns, Thy mercy lifts him to the skies.

3 Children, whose little minds, unform'd,
Ne'er rais'd a tender thought to heav'n
And men, whom reason lifts to God,
Tho' oft by passion downward driv❜n;
Those, too, who bend with age and care,
And faint and tremble near the tomb,
Who, sick'ning at the present scenes,
Sigh for that better state to come:
All, great Creator! all are thine;
All feel thy providential care;
And, thro' each varying scene of life,
Alike thy constant pity share.

6 And, whether grief oppress the heart,
Or whether joy elate the breast,
Or life still keep its little course,
Or death invite the heart to rest:

7 All are thy messengers, and all

Thy sacred pleasure, Lord, obey; And all are training man to dwell Nearer to bliss, and nearer thee.

(77.) L. M. 68. God's appointments wise and good. THROUGH all the various shifting scene Of life's mistaken ill or good,

1

Thy hand, O God, conducts, unseen,
The beautiful vicissitude.

2 Thou givest with paternal care,
Howe'er unjustly we complain,
To all their necessary share

Of joy and sorrow, health and pain.

3 Trust we to youth, or friends, or pow'r?
Fix we on this terrestrial ball?
When most secure, the coming hour,
If thou see fit, may blast them all.

4 Thy pow'rful consolations cheer;

Thy smiles suppress the deep-fetch'd sigh;
Thy hand can dry the trickling tear,
That secret wets the widow's eye.

5 All things on earth, and all in heav'n
On thy eternal will depend;
And all for greater good were giv'n,
Would man pursue th' appointed end.

6 Be this my care:-To all beside,
Indiffrent let my wishes be.
Passion be calm, abas'd be pride,

And fix'd my soul, great God! on thee.

69.

(78.)

C. M.

God's ways incomprehensible.

1 GOD moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform,
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

2 Deep and unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,

He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sov'reign will.

3 Ye fearful saints! fresh courage take:
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and will break
In blessings on your head.

4 Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

5 His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding ev'ry hour.

The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow'r.

6 Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain.
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

70.

1

(79.) L. M.

In him we live and move.

VAST are thy works, almighty Lord!
All nature rests upon thy word.
Thy glories in the heav'ns we see;
The spacious earth is full of thee.

2 The various tribes of creatures stand,
Waiting their portions from thy hand;
And, while they take their diff'rent food,
Their cheerful looks pronounce thee good.