1 My Father, grant thy presence nigh
To bear aloft my sinking soul,
When sorrow o'er my pathway here
In widely whelming waves doth roll.
O, teach mine else unguarded heart,
The clouds of gloomy doubt to shun,
To bow unto thy chastening hand,
And meekly say "Thy will be done."
2 Though dark to us thy ways may seem,
Thy needful chastisements severe;
Thou dost not willingly afflict,
Nor grieve thy erring children here.
O, teach my heart to lean on thee,
To faith and resignation won,
To see thy love in all its ways,
And humbly say, "Thy will be done."
1 LORD, my times are in thy hand:
All my fondest hopes have planned
To thy wisdom I resign,
And would make thy purpose mine.
2 Thou my daily task shalt give;
Day by day to thee I live:
So shall added years fulfil
Not
my own, my Father's will.
3 Fond ambition, whisper not;
Happy is my humble lot :
Anxious, busy cares, away;
I'm provided for to-day.
4 O, to live exempt from care,
By the energy of prayer,
Strong in faith, with mind subdued,
Yet elate with gratitude!
Invocation of our Father's Presence.
1 O FATHER,—draw us after thee!
So shall we run and never tire;
Thy presence still our comfort be,
Our hope, our joy, our sole desire;
Thy Spirit grant;-for neither fear
Nor sin can come, while that is here.
2 From all eternity, with love
Unchangeable, thou hast us viewed;
Before these beating hearts did move,
Thy tender mercies us pursued:
Ever with us may they abide,
And close us in on every side.
3 In suffering be thy love our peace;
In weakness be thy love our power;
And when the storms of life shall cease,
O God! in that important hour,
In death as life be thou our guide,
And bear us through death's whelming tide.
Praising God in all Changes.
1 FATHER of mercies, God of love,
My Father and my God!
I'll sing the honors of thy name;
And spread thy praise abroad.
2 In every period of my life,
Thy thoughts of love appear;
Thy mercies gild each transient scene,
And crown each lengthening year.
3 In all these mercies may my soul
A father's bounty see:
Nor let the gifts thy grace bestows
Estrange my heart from thee.
4 Then will I close my eyes in death,
Free from distressing fear;
For death itself is life, my God,
If thou art with me there.
1 'Tis my happiness below
Not to live without the cross,
But the Saviour's power to know,
Sanctifying every loss:
Trials must and will befall;
But with humble faith to see
Love inscribed upon them all,
This is happiness to me.
2 God in Israel sows the seeds
Of affliction, pain and toil:
These spring up and choke the weeds
Which would else o'erspread the soil;
Trials make the promise sweet;
Trials give new life to prayer;
Trials bring me to his feet,
Lay me low, and keep me there.
1 WHEN called, O Lord, to mourn the doom
Of one affection held most dear,-
While o'er the closing, silent tomb,
The bleeding heart distils the tear,-
Though love its tribute sure will pay,
And early streams of solace shun,
Still, still the humble soul would say,
In lowly dust, "Thy will be done."
2 Whate'er, O Lord, thou hast designed
To bring my soul to thee in trust,
If miseries or afflictions kind,-
For all thy dealings, Lord, are just, —
Take all, but grant, in goodness free,
That love which ne'er thy stroke should shun;
Support this heart and strengthen me
To say in faith, " Thy will be done."
"My times are in thy hand."
1 TO THEE, my God, my days are known;
My soul enjoys the thought;
My actions all before thy face,
Nor are my faults forgot.
2 Each secret breath devotion vents
Is vocal to thine ear;
And all my walks of daily life
Before thine eye appear.
3 Each golden hour of beaming light
Is gilded by thy rays;
And dark affliction's midnight gloom
present God surveys.
4 Full in thy view through life I pass,
And in thy view I die;
And when each mortal bond is broke,,
Shall find my God is nigh.
Praising God through all Changes.
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 who are distressed
From my example comfort take,
And charm their griefs to rest.
3 The hosts of God encamp around
'The dwellings of the just;
Deliverance he affords to all
Who in his succor trust.
4 O make but trial of his love!
Experience will decide
How blest they are, and only they,
Who in his truth confide.
1 FROM early dawning light
Till evening shades arise,
For thy salvation, Lord, I wait,
With ever-longing eyes.
2 Remember all thy grace,
And lead me in thy truth;
Forgive the sins of riper days,
And follies of my youth.
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