HYMN CXIX.

THOU very present aid

In suffering and distress,

The soul, which still on Thee is staid,
Is kept in perfect peace.

Calmly the heart, reclined
By faith on Jesus' breast,
In deepest woes exults to find
A sweet eternal rest.

Sorrow and fear are gone,
Whene'er Thy face appears;
It stills the sighing orphan's moan,
And dries the widow's tears.

Bereaved of earthly friends

We find them all in One!

And peace, and joy that never ends, And heaven-in Christ alone.

HYMN CXX.

THE Lord my pasture shall prepare, And feed me with a shepherd's care; His presence shall my wants supply, And guard me with a watchful eye; My noonday walks He shall attend, And all my midnight hours defend.

When in the sultry glebe I faint,
Or on the thirsty mountain pant;
To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary wand'ring steps He leads;
Where peaceful rivers soft and slow
Amid the verdant landscape flow.
Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My stedfast heart shall fear no ill,
For Thou, O Lord, art with me still;
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.

Though in a bare and rugged way
Through devious lonely wilds I stray,
Thy bounty shall my pains beguile;
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden greens and herbage crown'd,
And streams shall murmur all around.

HYMN CXXI.

KEEP me, O Lord, Thou King of kings,
By Thy almighty pow'r ;
Supply me with all needful things,
And guard me ev'ry hour.

Give me, O Lord, Thy saving grace;
Keep me from sin secure ;

May I the paths of virtue trace,
And make salvation sure.

For ev'ry mercy I enjoy,

Give me a thankful heart; And graciously my thoughts employ, To act the Christian part.

O holy, holy, holy Lord

Of earth and heaven above! Thy Spirit of peace to me afford, To sing, adore, and love.

HYMN CXXII.

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

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

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

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning Providence
He hides a smiling face,

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain ;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

HYMN CXXIII.

GOD of my life, whose gracious power Through varied deaths my soul hath led, Or turn'd aside the fatal hour,

Or lifted up my sinking head;

In all my ways Thy hand I own,
Thy ruling Providence I see:
Assist me still my course to run,
And still direct my paths to Thee.

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.

Enlarge my heart to make Thee room;
Enter, and in me ever stay;
The crooked then shall straight become;
The darkness shall be lost in day.

162

TRUST IN GOD AND PRAYER.

HYMN CXXIV.

FATHER, whate'er of earthly bliss
Thy sovereign will denies;
Accepted at the throne of grace
Let this petition rise :

Give me a calm and thankful heart,
From every murmur free;
The blessings of Thy grace impart,
And let me live to Thee.

Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine
My life and death attend,

Thy presence through my journey shine,
And crown my journey's end.

Charity.

HYMN CXXV.

BLEST is the man, whose soft'ning heart

Can feel another's pain;

To whom the supplicating eye

Is never rais'd in vain;

Whose breast with gen'rous warmth expands,

A brother's woe to feel;

And melts with pity o'er the wound

He wants the power to heal.