4 O! listen to kind nature's voice:
To heav'n direct thine eyes;

There nobler objects claim thy choice,
And brighter prospects rise.

5 Far from anxiety and care,

Still seek that blissful shore, Where discontent and dark despair Shall rend thy heart no more.

166.

Common Metre. JERVIS.

GOD our consolation in adversity and distress.

1 T0

calm the sorrows of the mind,

Our heav'nly Friend is nigh,

To wipe the anxious tear that starts,
Or trembles in the eye.

2 Thou canst, when anguish rends the heart,
The secret woe control;
The inward malady canst heal,

The sickness of the soul.

3 Thou canst repress the rising sigh;
Canst sooth each mortal care;
And ev'ry deep and heart-felt groan
Is wafted to thine ear.

4 Thy gracious eye is watchful still;
Thy potent arm can save

From threat'ning danger and disease,
And the devouring grave.

N

5 When, pale and languid all the frame,
The ruthless hand of pain
Arrests the feeble pow'rs of life,
The help of man is vain.

6 'Tis thou, great GOD! alone canst check
The progress of disease;

And sickness, aw'd by pow'r divine,
The high command obeys.

7 Eternal Source of life and health,
And ev'ry bliss we feel!

In sorrow, and in joy, to thee
Our grateful hearts appeal.

167.

Common Metre. TATE and BRADY.

Encouragement from the experience of GOD's

1

TH

goodness.

HRO' 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 deliv'rance I will boast,
Till all who are distrest

From my example comfort take,
And charm their griefs to rest.

3 The hosts of GOD encamp around
The dwellings of the just:

Protection he affords to all

Who make his name their trust.

4 O make but trial of his love!
Experience will decide,

How blest are they, and only they,
Who in his truth confide.

5 Fear him, ye saints, and you will then Have nothing else to fear:

Make you his service your delight;
Your wants shall be his care,

PART VI.

Thanksgiving.

168.

Short Metre. MRS. STEELE.

Obligation to gratitude and praise. 1 MY Maker, and my King!

2

3

4

5

To thee my all I owe:

Thy sov'reign bounty is the spring,
From whence my blessings flow.
Thou ever good and kind!
A thousand reasons move,
A thousand obligations bind
My heart to grateful love.

The creature of thy hand,
On thee alone I live:

My GOD! thy benefits demand

More praise than tongue can give.

O what can I impart,

When all was thine before?

Thy love demands a thankful heart;
The gift, alas! how poor!

Shall I withhold thy due?
And shall my passions rove?
LORD! make me to thy service true,
And fill me with thy love.

6

1

O let thy grace inspire

My soul with strength divine;
Let all my pow'rs to thee aspire,
And all my days be thine.

W

169.

Long Metre. WATTS.
Praise for temporal blessings.

E bless the LORD, the just, the good, Who fills our hearts with joy and food;

Who pours his blessings from the skies, And loads our days with rich supplies. 2 He sends the sun his circuit round,

To cheer the fruits, to warm the ground:
He bids the clouds with plenteous rain
Refresh the thirsty earth again.

3 'Tis to his care we owe our breath,
And all our near escapes from death:
Safety and health to GOD belong:

He helps the weak, he guards the strong. 4 He makes the saint and sinner prove The common blessings of his love; But the wide diff'rence shall appear, When the rewarding day draws near.

N 2