  606. C. M. Anonymous."Trust ye in the Lord." 1When grief and anguish press me down, And hope and comfort flee, I cling, O Father, to thy throne, And stay my heart on thee. 2When clouds of dark temptation rise, And pour their wrath on me, To thee for aid I turn my eyes, And fix my trust on thee. 3When death invades my peaceful home, The sundered ties shall be A closer bond in time to come, To bind my heart to thee. 4Lord,--"Not my will but thine be done!" My soul from fear set free, Her faith shall anchor at thy throne, And trust alone in thee. 607. L. M. Doddridge.Weeping Seed-Time and Joyful Harvest. Ps. 126. 1The darkened sky, how thick it lowers! Troubled with storms, and big with showers, No cheerful gleam of light appears, And nature pours forth all her tears. 2But seeds of ecstasy unknown Are in these watered furrows sown: See the green blades, how thick they rise, And with fresh verdure bless our eyes! 3In secret foldings they contain Unnumbered ears of golden grain: And heaven shall pour its beams around, Till the ripe harvest load the ground. 4Then shall the trembling mourner come And bind his sheaves and bear them home; The voice long broke with sighs shall sing, Till heaven with hallelujahs ring. 608. L. M. 6l. Grant."He is able to save unto the uttermost." 1When vexing thoughts within me rise, And, sore dismayed, my spirit dies; Yet he who once vouchsafed to bear The sick'ning anguish of despair, Shall sweetly soothe, shall gently dry, The throbbing heart, the streaming eye. 2When, mourning, o'er some stone I bend, Which covers all that was a friend, And from his voice, his hand, his smile, Divides me for a little while; Thou, Saviour, mark'st the tears I shed, For thou didst weep o'er Lazarus dead. 3And oh, when I have safely past Through every conflict but the last, Still, still unchanging, watch beside My painful bed--for thou hast died; Then point to realms of cloudless day, And wipe the latest tear away. 609. C. M. Cotton.God, the Refuge of the Afflicted. 1Affliction is a stormy deep, Where wave resounds to wave; Though o'er our heads the billows roll, We know the Lord can save. 2When darkness and when sorrows rose, And pressed on every side, The Lord hath still sustained our steps, And still hath been our Guide. 3Perhaps, before the morning dawn, He will restore our peace; For he who bade the tempest roar, Can bid the tempest cease. 4Here will we rest, here build our hopes, Nor murmur at his rod; He's more to us than all the world, Our Health, our Life, our God. 610. L. M. Miss Dodd."Thy will be done." 1My 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." 2Though 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." 611. 7s. M. Anonymous.Holy Contentment. 1Lord, my times are in thy hand: All my fondest hopes have planned To thy wisdom I resign, And would make thy purpose mine. 2Thou my daily task shalt give; Day by day to thee I live: So shall added years fulfil Not my own, my Father's will. 3Fond ambition, whisper not; Happy is my humble lot: Anxious, busy cares, away; I'm provided for to-day. 4O, to live exempt from care, By the energy of prayer, Strong in faith, with mind subdued, Yet elate with gratitude! 612. L. M. 6l. Anonymous.Invocation of our Father's Presence. 1O 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. 2From 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. 3In 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. 613. C. M. Heginbotham.Praising God in all Changes. 1Father of mercies, God of love, My Father and my God! I'll sing the honors of thy name; And spread thy praise abroad. 2In every period of my life, Thy thoughts of love appear; Thy mercies gild each transient scene, And crown each lengthening year. 3In all these mercies may my soul A father's bounty see: Nor let the gifts thy grace bestows Estrange my heart from thee. 4Then will I close my eyes in death, Free from distressing fear; For death itself is life, my God, If thou art with me there. 614. 7s. M. Cowper.Welcome, Cross. 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. 2God 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. 615. L. M. Anonymous."Thy will be done." 1When 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." 2Whate'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." 616. C. M. Doddridge."My times are in thy hand." 1To Thee, my God, my days are known; My soul enjoys the thought; My actions all before thy face, Nor are my faults forgot. 2Each secret breath devotion vents Is vocal to thine ear; And all my walks of daily life Before thine eye appear. 3Each golden hour of beaming light Is gilded by thy rays; And dark affliction's midnight gloom A present God surveys. 4Full 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. 617. C. M. Tate & Brady.Praising God through all Changes. 1Through all the changing scenes of life, In trouble and in joy, The praises of my God shall still My heart and tongue employ. 2Of his deliverance I will boast, Till all who are distressed From my example comfort take, And charm their griefs to rest. 3The hosts of God encamp around The dwellings of the just; Deliverance he affords to all Who in his succor trust. 4O make but trial of his love! Experience will decide How blest they are, and only they, Who in his truth confide. 618. S. M. Watts.Trusting in God. 1From early dawning light Till evening shades arise, For thy salvation, Lord, I wait, With ever-longing eyes. 2Remember all thy grace, And lead me in thy truth; Forgive the sins of riper days, And follies of my youth. 3The Lord is just and kind; The meek shall learn his ways, And every humble sinner find The blessings of his grace. 619. C. M. Cowper.Resignation and Trust. 1O Lord, my best desire fulfil, And help me to resign Life, health and comfort to thy will, And make thy pleasure mine. 2Why should I shrink at thy command, Whose love forbids my fears? Or tremble at thy gracious hand That wipes away my tears? 3No! let me rather freely yield What most I prize, to thee; Who never hast a good withheld, Or wilt withhold from me. 4But ah! my inmost spirit cries, Still bind me to thy sway; Else the next cloud that veils the skies, Drives all these thoughts away. 620. L. M. Bowring.The Same. 1On light-beams breaking from above, The eternal course of mercy runs; And by ten thousand cords of love Our heavenly Father guides his sons. 2Amidst affliction's thickest host, And sorrow's darkest, mightiest band, The heavenly cord is drawn the most, And most is felt the heavenly hand. 3Oh, be it mine to feel, to see Through earth's perplexed and varying road, The cords that link us, God, to thee, And draw us to thine own abode. 621. L. M. Norton.Trust and Submission. 1My God, I thank thee! may no thought E'er deem thy chastisements severe; But may this heart, by sorrow taught, Calm each wild wish, each idle fear. 2Thy mercy bids all nature bloom; The sun shines bright, and man is gay; Thine equal mercy spreads the gloom, That darkens o'er his little day. 3Full many a throb of grief and pain Thy frail and erring child must know: But not one prayer is breathed in vain, Nor does one tear unheeded flow. 4Thy various messengers employ; Thy purposes of love fulfil; And 'mid the wreck of human joy, Let kneeling faith adore thy will. 622. C. M. Watts.Confidence in God. 1Soon as I heard my Father say, "Ye children, seek my grace," My heart replied without delay, "I'll seek my Father's face." 2Let not thy face be hid from me, Nor frown my soul away; God of my life, I fly to thee In each distressing day. 3Should friends and kindred, near and dear, Leave me to want, or die, My God will make my life his care, And all my need supply. 4Wait on the Lord, ye trembling saints And keep your courage up; He'll raise your spirit when it faints, And far exceed your hope. 623. C. M.Comforts of Religion. 1When gloomy thoughts and boding fears The trembling heart invade, And all the face of nature wears A universal shade,-- 2Religion's dictates can assuage The tempest of the soul; And every fear shall cease to rage, At her divine control. 3When feeble reason, tired and blind, Sinks helpless and afraid, This blest supporter of the mind Affords a powerful aid. 4O may our hearts confess her power, And find a sweet relief, To brighten every gloomy hour, And soften every grief! 624. L. M. Tate & Brady.Confidence in the Divine Care. 1No change of times shall ever shock My firm affection, Lord, to thee; For thou hast always been a rock, A fortress and defence to me. 2Thou my Deliverer art, my God; My trust is in thy mighty power; Thou art my shield from foes abroad, At home my safeguard and my tower. 3To heaven I made my mournful prayer, To God addressed my humble moan, Who graciously inclined his ear, And heard me from his lofty throne. 4Who, then, deserves to be adored, But God, on whom my hopes depend? Or who, except the mighty Lord, Can with resistless power defend? 625. C. P. M. Cotton.Contentment and Resignation. 1If solid happiness we prize, Within our breasts the jewel lies; Nor need we roam abroad: The world has little to bestow; From pious hearts our joys must flow, Hearts that delight in God. 2To be resigned, when ills betide, Patient, when favors are denied, And pleased with favors given; This is the wise, the virtuous part; This is that incense of the heart, Whose fragrance reaches heaven. 3Thus through life's changing scenes we'll go, Its checkered paths of joy and woe, With holy care we'll tread: Quit its vain scenes without a tear, Without a trouble or a fear, And mingle with the dead. 626. C. M. Aveling.Fear not. 1Whene'er the clouds of sorrow roll, And trials whelm the mind,-- When, faint with grief, thy wearied soul No joys on earth can find,-- Then lift thy voice to God on high, Dry up the trembling tear, And hush the low complaining sigh: Fear not; thy God is near. 2When dark temptations spread their snares And earth with charms allures, And when thy soul, oppressed with fears, The world's assault endures, Then let thy Father's friendly voice Thy fainting spirit cheer, And bid thy trembling heart rejoice: Fear not; thy God is near. 3And when the final hour shall come, That calls thee to thy rest, To dwell within thy heavenly home, A welcome, joyful guest, Be calm; though Jordan's waves may roll, No ills shall meet thee there; Angels shall whisper to thy soul, Fear not; thy God is near. 627. C. M. Doddridge.Trust in the Presence and Help of God. 1And art thou with us, gracious Lord, To dissipate our fear? Dost thou proclaim thyself our God, Our God forever near? 2Doth thy right hand, which formed the earth, And bears up all the skies, Stretch from on high its friendly aid, When dangers round us rise? 3On this support our souls shall lean, And banish every care; The gloomy vale of death will smile, If God be with us there. 4While we his gracious succor prove, 'Midst all our various ways, The darkest shades, through which we pass, Shall echo with his praise. 628. L. M. Beddome.Submission. 1Wait, O my soul, thy Maker's will! Tumultuous passions, all be still! Nor let one murmuring thought arise; His ways are just, his counsels wise. 2He in the thickest darkness dwells, Performs his work,--the cause conceals; But though his methods are unknown, Judgment and truth support his throne. 3In heaven, and earth, and air, and seas, He executes his firm decrees; And by his saints it stands confessed That what he does is ever best. 629. C. M. Burder's Coll.Rejoicing in Adversity. 1What though no flowers the fig-tree clothe Though vines their fruit deny, The labor of the olive fail, And fields no meat supply;-- 2Though from the fold, with sad surprise, My flock cut off I see; Though famine reign in empty stalls, Where herds were wont to be;-- 3Yet in the Lord will I be glad, And glory in his love; In him I'll joy, who will the God Of my salvation prove. 4God is the treasure of my soul, The source of lasting joy-- A joy which want shall not impair, Nor death itself destroy. 630. C. M. Anonymous."Blessed are they that mourn." 1In trouble and in grief, O God, Thy smile hath cheered my way; And joy hath budded from each thorn That round my footsteps lay. 2The hours of pain have yielded good, Which prosperous days refused; As herbs, though scentless when entire, Spread fragrance when they're bruised. 3The oak strikes deeper as its boughs By furious blasts are driven; So life's vicissitudes the more Have fixed my heart in heaven. 4All-gracious Lord! whate'er my lot In other times may be, I'll welcome still the heaviest grief, That brings me near to thee. 631. L. M. Bowring.God Merciful in Affliction. 1Mysterious are the ways of God, And fear and blindness oft repine; We murmur 'neath his chastening rod, Because we read not his design. 2Impending clouds his love has spread O'er this low vale where mortals dwell; And oft we mourn his spirit fled, When adverse tempests round us swell. 3But in those storms that sometimes roll, Our mortal dwellings dark above, Whose threatening shades dismay the soul, Dwells the bright presence of his love. 4We cannot see him--not a ray Of all his glory there appears, And oft we thread our darkened way, Trembling with anxious doubts and fears. 5Yet faith still looks beyond the gloom, While hope's bright star illumes our night; Pilgrims of earth! though dark the tomb, It leads to scenes of bliss and light. 632. C. M. Moore."He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." 1O Thou who driest the mourner's tear, How dark this world would be, If, when deceived and wounded here, We could not fly to thee! 2But thou wilt heal that broken heart, Which like the plants that throw Their fragrance from the wounded part, Breathes sweetness out of woe. 3When joy no longer soothes or cheers, And e'en the hope that threw A moment's sparkle o'er our tears Is dimmed and vanished too; 4O, who would bear life's stormy doom, Did not thy wing of love Come, brightly wafting through the gloom Our peace-branch from above? 5Then sorrow touched by thee grows bright, With more than rapture's ray; The darkness shows us worlds of light We never saw by day. 633. C. M. Drummond."God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble." 1Bereft of all, when hopeless care Would sink us to the tomb, O what can save us from despair? What dissipate the gloom? 2No balm that earthly plants distil Can soothe the mourner's smart; No mortal hand with lenient skill Bind up the broken heart. 3But One alone, who reigns above, Our woe to peace can turn, And light the lamp of joy and love That long has ceased to burn. 4Then, O my soul, to that One flee, To God thy woes reveal; His eye alone thy wounds can see, His hand alone can heal. The Same. 1God is our refuge and defence, In trouble our unfailing aid; Secure in his omnipotence, What foe can make our soul afraid? 2Yea, though the earth's foundations rock, And mountains down the gulf be hurled, His people smile amid the shock, They look beyond this transient world. 3There is a river pure and bright, Whose streams make glad the heavenly plains, Where, in eternity of light, The city of our God remains. 4Built by the word of his command, With his unclouded presence blessed, Firm as his throne the bulwarks stand; There is our home, our hope, our rest. 635. C. M. Anonymous.Trust amid the Severities of God. 1Thou Power supreme, whose mighty scheme These woes of mine fulfil, Here, firm, I rest; they must be best, Because they are thy will. 2Then all I want,--O do thou grant This one request of mine,-- Since to enjoy thou dost deny, Assist me to resign. |
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