6 In all thy ways, we humbly own
Thy providential power,
Intrusting to thy care, alone,
The lot of every hour.

Light shining out of Darkness.

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 in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,

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

COWPER.

3 Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall 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 every hour;

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

6 Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan his work in vain
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

;

159

L. M.

The Darkness of Providence.

WATTS.

1 LORD, we adore thy vast designs,
The obscure abyss of Providence,
Too deep to sound with mortal lines,
Too dark to view with feeble sense.

2 Now thou array'st thine awful face
In angry frowns, without a smile;
We through the cloud believe thy grace,
Secure of thy compassion still.

3 Through seas and storms of deep distress
We sail by faith, and not by sight;
Faith guides us in the wilderness,
Through all the briers and the night.

4 Dear Father, if thy lifted rod

Resolve to scourge us here below, Still we must lean upon our God; Thine arm shall bear us safely through.

The Book of God's Decrees.

1 LET the whole race of creatures lie Abased before their God:

WATTS.

Whate'er his sovereign voice has formed He governs with a nod.

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 If light attend the course

I run,

"Tis he provides those rays;

And 'tis his hand that hides my sun,
If darkness cloud my days.

4 Yet I would not be much concerned,
Nor vainly long to see

The volumes of his deep decrees
What months are writ for me.

5 When he reveals the book of life,
O, may I read my name
Amongst the chosen of his love,
The followers of the Lamb!

161

C. M.

WATTS.

Melancholy removed. Ps. 126.

1 WHEN God revealed his gracious name, And changed my mournful state,

My rapture seemed a pleasing dream,
The grace appeared so great.

2 The world beheld the glorious change,
And did thy hand confess;

My tongue broke out in unknown strains, And sung surprising grace.

3 "Great is the work," my neighbors cried, And owned the power divine; "Great is the work," my heart replied, "And be the glory thine."

4 The Lord can clear the darkest skies,
Can give us day for night,

Make drops of sacred sorrow rise
To rivers of delight.

5 Let those that sow in sadness wait

Till the fair harvest come;

They shall confess their sheaves are great, And shout the blessings home.

162

L. M.

WATTS.

Sickness healed and Sorrow removed. Ps. 30.
1 I WILL extol thee, Lord, on high;
At thy command diseases fly:
Who but a God can speak and save
From the dark borders of the grave?
2 Sing to the Lord, ye saints of his,
And tell how large his goodness is;
Let all your powers rejoice, and bless
While you record his holiness.

3 His anger but a moment stays;
His love is life and length of days;
Though grief and tears the night employ,
The morning star restores the joy.

163

S. M.

DODDRIDGE.

God's Care a Remedy for ours.

1 HOW gentle God's commands !
How kind his precepts are!

Come, cast your burdens on the Lord,
And trust his constant care."

2 While Providence supports,

Let saints securely dwell;

That hand, which bears all nature up,
Shall guide his children well.

3 Why should this anxious load
Press down your weary mind?

Haste to your heavenly Father's throne,
And sweet refreshment find.

4 His goodness stands approved
Down to the present day;
I'll drop my burden at his feet,
And bear a song away.

164

L. M.

J. FAWCETT.

"As thy Day, so shall thy Strength be."

1 AFFLICTED saint, to God draw near; Thy Father's gracious promise hear; His faithful word declares to thee,

That "as thy day, thy strength shall be."

2 Let not thy heart despond, and say,
"How shall I stand this trying day?"
He has engaged, by firm decree,

That "as thy day, thy strength shall be."
3 Thy faith is weak, thy foes are strong;
And if the conflict should be long,
The Lord will make the tempter flee;
For "as thy day, thy strength shall be.”
4 When called by him to bear the cross,
Or sore affliction, pain, or loss,

Or deep distress and poverty,

Still "as thy day, thy strength shall be."
5 When death at length appears in view,
His presence shall thy fears subdue;
He comes to set thy spirit free;

And "as thy day, thy strength shall be."