6 Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His works in vain.
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
1 THY way, O God, is in the sea;
Thy paths I cannot trace,
Nor comprehend the mystery
Of Thy unbounded grace.
2 Here the dark veils of flesh and sense
My captive soul surround;
Mysterious deeps of Providence
My wondering thoughts confound.
3 As through a glass, I dimly see
The wonders of Thy Love;
How little do I know of Thee,
Or of the joys above!
4 'Tis but in part I know Thy will:
I bless Thee for the sight;
When will Thy Love the rest reveal,
In glory's clearer light?
5 With rapture shall I then survey
Thy Providence and Grace,
And spend an everlasting day
In wonder, love, and praise.
THE Lord my Shepherd is,
I shall be well supplied:
Since He is mine, and I am His,
What can I want beside?
He leads me to the place
Where heavenly pasture grows, Where living waters gently pass,
And full salvation flows.
If e'er I go astray,
He doth my soul reclaim,
And guides me in His own right way,
Though I should walk through death's dark shade, My Shepherd's with me there.
The bounties of Thy love
Shall crown my following days;
Nor from Thy house will I remove,
Nor cease to speak Thy praise. Watts. 1719.
82
1 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 noon-day walks He shall attend,
And all my midnight hours defend.
2 When in the sultry glebe I faint,
Or on the thirsty mountain pant;
To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary wandering steps He leads,
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the verdant landscape flow.
3 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 crowned,
And streams shall murmur all around.
4 Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast 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.
Joseph Addison. 1728.
1 THROUGH all the changing scenes of life,
In trouble and in joy,
The praises of my God shall still
My heart and tongue employ.
2 Of His deliverance I will boast,
Till all that are distrest
From my example comfort take,
And charm their griefs to rest.
3 0, magnify the Lord with me,
With me exalt His Name!
When in distress on Him I called,
He to my rescue came.
4 The hosts of God encamp around
The dwellings of the just;
Deliverance He affords to all
Who on His succor trust.
5 0, make but trial of His Love:
Experience will decide
How blest are they, and only they,
Who in His truth confide.
6 Fear Him, ye saints, and you will then
Have nothing else to fear;
Make you His service your delight,
He'll make your wants His care.
Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady. 1696. a.
1 How are Thy servants blest, O Lord!
How sure is their defence!
Eternal Wisdom is their guide,
Their help Omnipotence.
2 From all my griefs and straits, O Lord!
Thy mercy sets me free;
Whilst in the confidence of prayer
My heart takes hold on Thee.
3 In midst of dangers, fears, and death,
Thy goodness I'll adore;
And praise Thee for Thy mercies past,
And humbly hope for more.
4 My life, while Thou preserv'st my life,
Thy sacrifice shall be;
And O, may death, when death shall come,
Unite my soul to Thee!
1 My God, my only Help and Hope,
My strong and sure Defence,
For all my safety and my peace
I bless Thy Providence.
2 The daily favors of my God
I cannot sing at large:
Yet let me make this holy boast,
I am the Almighty's charge.
3 Lord, in the day Thou art about
The paths wherein I tread;
And in the night, when I lie down,
Thou art about my bed.
4 Naked I came into the world,
And nothing with me brought;
And nothing have I here deserved,
Yet have I lacked nought.
5 I do not bless my laboring hand,
My laboring head, or chance;
Thy Providence, most gracious God,
Is mine inheritance.
1 LORD, what is man, that child of pride,
That boasts his high degree?
If one poor moment he be left,
He sinks, and where is he?
2 In Thee I live, and move, and am;
Thou deal'st me out my days;
As Thou renew'st my being, Lord,
Let me renew Thy praise.
3 From Thee I am, through Thee I am,
And for Thee I must be;
'Twere better for me not to live,
Than not to live to Thee.
4 My God, Thou art my glorious Sun,
By whose bright beams I shine:
As Thou, Lord, ever art with me,
Let me be ever Thine.
5 Thou art my living Fountain, Lord,
Whose streams on me do flow;
Myself I render unto Thee.
To whom myself I owe.
6 As Thou, Lord, an immortal soul
Hast breathed into me;
So let my soul be breathing forth
Immortal thanks to Thee.
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