7

8

9

Now through another year,
Supported by his care,

We raise our Ebenezer here,

"The Lord has help'd thus far!"
Our lot in future years,
Unable to foresee,

He kindly, to prevent our fears,
Says, "Leave it all to me!"

Yea, Lord, we wish to cast
Our cares upon thy breast;
Help us to praise thee for the past,
And trust thee for the rest!

212.

The Refuge, River, and Rock of the Church.

Isa. xxxii. 2.

1

HE

C. M.

E who on earth as man was known,
And bore our sins and pains,

Now, seated on th' eternal throne,
The God of glory reigns.

2 His hands the wheels of nature guide
With an unerring skill;

And countless worlds, extended wide,
Obey his sov'reign will.

3 While harps unnumber'd sound his praise In yonder world above,

His saints on earth admire his ways,
And glory in his love.

4 His righteousness, to faith reveal'd,
Wrought out for guilty worms,
Affords a hiding-place and shield
From enemies and storms.

5 This land, through which his pilgrims go, Is desolate and dry;

But streams of grace from him o'erflow,
Their thirst to satisfy.

6 When troubles, like a burning sun,
Beat heavy on their head,
To this almighty Rock they run,
And find a pleasing shade,

7 How glorious he, how happy they
In such a glorious Friend!
Whose love secures them all the way,
And crowns them at the end.

1

2

3

213.

The word of God is quick and powerful.

Heb. iv. 12.

THE word of Christ our Lord,
With whom we have to do,

Is sharper than a two-edg'd sword,
To pierce the sinner through!

Swift as the lightning's blaze,
When awful thunders roll,

It fills the conscience with amaze,

And penetrates the soul.

No heart can be conceal'd

From his all-piercing eyes;

S. M.

Each thought and purpose stands reveal'd,
Naked without disguise.

4 He sees his people's fears,

He notes their mournful cry;

He counts their sighs and falling tears,
And helps them from on high,

5

Though feeble is their good,
It has its kind regard;

Yea, all they would do if they could
Shall find a sure reward.

6 He sees the wicked too,
And will repay them soon
For all the evil deeds they do,
And all they would have done.

7

Since all our secret ways

Are mark'd and known by thee,
Afford us, Lord, thy light of grace,
That we ourselves may see!

214.

The Day of Judgment.

1 DAY of judgment, day of wonders! Hark! the trumpet's awful sound, Louder than a thousand thunders,

Shakes the vast creation round! How the summons will the sinner's heart confound! 2 See the Judge, our nature wearing,

Cloth'd in majesty divine!

You, who long for his appearing,

Then shall say, "This God is mine!" Gracious Saviour, own me in that day for thine!

3 At his call the dead awaken,

Rise to life from earth and sea:

All the pow'rs of nature shaken,

By his looks prepare to flee:

Careless sinner! what will then become of thee?

4 Horrors past imagination

Will surprise your trembling heart, When you hear your condemnation, "Hence, accursed wretch, depart! Thou with Satan and his angels have thy part!" 5 Satan, who now tries to please you, Lest you timely warning take,

When that word is past, will seize you,
Plunge you in the burning lake:
Think, poor sinner, thy eternal all's at stake!
6 But to those who have confessed,

Lov'd and serv'd the Lord below,

He will say,

"Come near, ye blessed!

See the kingdom I bestow:

You for ever shall my love and glory know."
Under sorrows and reproaches,

May this thought your courage raise!
Swiftly God's great day approaches,

Sighs shall then be chang'd to praise: We shall triumph when the world is in a blaze!

215.

Trust of the Wicked and the Righteous compared. Jeremiah xvii. 5—8.

1 As parched in the barren sands,

Beneath a burning sky,

C. M.

The worthless bramble with'ring stands,
And only grows to die.

2 Such is the sinner's awful case,

Who makes the world his trust,
And dares his confidence to place
In vanity and dust.

3 A secret curse destroys his root,
And dries his moisture up;
He lives awhile, but bears no fruit,
Then dies without a hope!

4 But happy he whose hopes depend
Upon the Lord alone:

The soul that trusts in such a Friend
Can ne'er be overthrown.

5 Though gourds should wither, cisterns break,
And creature-comforts die,
No change his solid hope can shake,
Or stop his sure supply.

6 So thrives and blooms the tree whose roots
By constant streams are fed;
Array'd in green, and rich in fruits,
It rears its branching head.

7 It thrives though rain should be denied,
And drought around prevail;

1

2

'Tis planted by a river's side,
Whose waters cannot fail.

216.

The Pilgrims' Song.

FROM Egypt lately freed

By the Redeemer's grace,

A rough and thorny path we tread,
In hopes to see his face.

The flesh dislikes the way,
But faith approves it well;
This only leads to endless day,
All others lead to hell.

S. M.