HYMN CXL. C. M.

Safety in God.

1 Hear, O my God! in mercy hear
Thy suppliant's humble cry,

Oppress'd with grief, and chill'd by fear,
To thee I lift mine eye.

2 From the wide earth's remotest bound,
I pour the fervent prayer,
Thy sov'reign balm for every wound
Can reach me, even there.

3 When anguish overwhelms my heart,
And sorrow's waves roll high,
Then graciously thy aid impart,
And cheer the lifted eye.

4 O lead me to the shadowing rock
That lifts its friendly form,
For there, secure from every shock,
My bark shall ride the storm.

5 There, in the haven of thine arms,
My soul shall fear no ill,
But rest secure from all alarms,
Since thou art with me still.

6 So will I daily tune my voice
To rapt'rous songs of praise,
Each hour with gratitude rejoice,
And hymns of gladness raise.

HYMN CXLI. L. M.

God the confidence of the good at all times. 1 Praise, everlasting praise, be paid To him who earth's foundations laid; Praise to the God, whose sov'reign will All nature's laws and powers fulfil.

2 Praise to the goodness of the Lord, Who rules his people by his word; Where faith contemplates his decrees, And every gracious promise sees.

3 There may the pious, humble mind,
Support in all its troubles find ;
And on that mighty God may stay,
Whose power the earth and heavens dis-
play.

4 Whence then arise distressing fears?
Why do we still indulge our tears?
Or why without those comforts live
Our God and Father waits to give?
5 O for a strong and lasting faith,
To credit what our Father saith!
And, having done his will, to place
A trust undoubting in his grace!

6 Should earth then to its centre shake,
And all the wheels of nature break;
Our steady souls should fear no more
Than solid rocks when billows roar.

HYMN CXLII. C. M.

Seeking protection and guidance from the God of our fathers.

1 O God of Bethel! by whose hand
Thy people still are fed;

Who through this weary pilgrimage,
Hast all our fathers led;

2 Our vows, our prayers, we now present Before thy throne of grace;

God of our fathers! be the God
Of their succeeding race.

3 Through each perplexing path of life,
Our wand'ring footsteps guide;
Give us each day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.

4 O spread thy cov'ring wings around,
Till all our wand'rings cease,
And at our Father's lov'd abode
Our souls arrive in peace.

5 To thee, as to our cov'nant God,
We'll our whole souls resign;
And thankful own, that all we are,
And all we have is thine.

HYMN CXLIII. L. M.

God is love.

1 When darkness long has veil'd my mind, And smiling day once more appears;

Then, my Creator! then I find
The folly of my doubts and fears.

2 Straight I upbraid my wand'ring heart, And blush that I should ever be

Thus prone to act so base a part,
Or harbour one hard thought of thee.

3 O let me then at length be taught
What I am still so slow to learn,-
That God is love, and changes not,
Nor knows the shadow of a turn.

4 Sweet truth, and easy to repeat!
But when my faith is sharply tried,
I find myself a learner yet,

Unskilful, weak, and apt to slide.

5 But, O my God! one look from thee
Subdues the disobedient will,
Drives doubt and discontent away,
And thy rebellious child is still.

God just and wise in afflictive appointments. 1 If Providence, to try my heart, Afflictions should prepare;

To God submissive may I bend,
And keep me from despair.

2 Whate'er he orders must be just;
Then let me kiss the rod,
Nor, poorly sunk, at all distrust
The goodness of my God.

3 The mind to which I owe my own,
To guide this mind is wise;

And he, to whom my faults are known,
The fittest to chastise.

4 Then, till life's latest sands are run,
O teach me, Power Divine!

Still to reply, thy will be done,
Whate'er becomes of mine.

HYMN CXLV. C. M.

Benefit of affliction.

1 O God! to thee my sinking soul
In deep distress doth fly;
Thy love can all my griefs control,
And all my wants supply.

2 How oft, when black misfortune's band
Around their victim stood,
The seeming ill, at thy command,
Hath chang'd to real good.

3 The tempest that obscur'd the sky
Hath set my bosom free

From earthly care, and sensual joy,
And turn'd my thoughts to thee.