5 When I sit beneath thy word,
At thy table cold and dead,
When I cannot see my Lord,
All my little day-light fled,-
Sun of Glory,
Beam again around my head.
6 When thy statutes I forsake,
When thy graces dimly shine,
When the covenant I break,
Jesus, then remember thine!
Check my wanderings
By a look of love divine.
7 Then, if heavenly dews distil,
If my hopes are bright and clear,
While I sit on Zion's hill,
Temper joy with holy fear;
Keep me watchful,—
Safe alone when Thou art near.
8 When afflictions cloud my sky,
When the tide of sorrow flows,
When thy rod is lifted high,
Let me on thy love repose;
Stay thy rough wind
When thy chilling eastern blows.
79 Ps. CXIX. 136.—" Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law."
1 ARISE, my tend'rest thoughts arise;
To torrents melt, my streaming eyes;
And thou, my heart, with anguish feel
Those evils which thou canst not heal.
2 See human nature sunk in shame;
See scandals pour'd on Jesus' name;
The Father wounded thro' the Son;
The world abus'd, the soul undone.
3 See the short course of vain delight
Closing in everlasting night;
In flames that no abatement know,
Tho' bitter tears for ever flow.
4 My God, I feel the mournful scene;
My bowels yearn o'er dying men;
And fain my pity would reclaim
And snatch the firebrands from the flame.
5 But feeble my compassion proves,
And can but weep where most it loves:
Thine own all-saving arm employ,
And turn these drops of grief to joy.
80 Ps. CXXVII. 2.-" So He giveth His beloved
1 INTERVAL of grateful shade,
Welcome to my weary head!
Welcome slumbers to my eyes-
Tired with glaring vanities!
My great Master still allows
Needful periods of repose.
2 By my heavenly Father blest,
Thus I give my powers to rest.
Heavenly Father! gracious name!
Night and day His love the same.
Far be each suspicious thought,
Every anxious care forgot.
3 Thou, my ever-bounteous God,
Crown'st my days with various good;
Thy kind eye, that cannot sleep,
These defenceless hours shall keep.
Blest vicissitude to me,
Day and night I'm still with thee!
81 Ps. CXXXI. 2.—“Surely I have behaved and quieted myself as a child that is weaned of his mother."
1 As a little weaned child,
Holy Saviour, may I be:
Humble, teachable, and mild,——
Altogether like to Thee.
2 While king David was a man,
Still he prayed to be a child;
And king David's Saviour can
Make me humble, meek, and mild.
3 When king David was a king,
While he sat on Israel's throne,
He was not too proud to sing
Praises to the Lord alone.
4 Surely, then, a child like me
Never should be proud in heart:
Lord, thy grace is rich and free,—
Grace like his to me impart.
5 Give me, Lord, such heavenly love,
As Thou didst to Israel's king,
Then, where David sings above,
I, ere long, shall also sing.
1 QUIET, Lord, my froward heart,
Make me teachable and mild,
Upright, simple, free from art,
Make me as a weaned child:
From distrust and envy free,
Pleas'd with all that pleases Thee.
2 What thou shalt to-day provide,
Let me as a child receive;
What to-morrow may betide,
Calmly to thy wisdom leave:
'Tis enough that Thou wilt care,
Why should I the burden bear?
3 As a little child relies
On a care beyond his own;
Knows he's neither strong nor wise
Fears to stir a step alone;
Let me thus with thee abide,
As my Father, Guard, and Guide.
4 Thus preserv'd from Satan's wiles,
Safe from dangers, free from fears,
May I live upon thy smiles,
Till the promis'd hour appears,
When the sons of God shall prove
All their Father's boundless love.
83 Ps. CXXXI. 2.-" My soul is even as a weaned child."
1 ACT but the infant's gentle part;
Give up to love thy willing heart,
No fondest parent's melting breast
Yearns like thy God's to make thee blest.
Taught its dear mother soon to know,
The tenderest babe its love can show;
Bid thy base slavish fear retire,-
This task no labour will require.
2 Thy heavenly Father, good and kind,
Wants but to have his child resign'd;
Wants but thy yielded heart,--no more!
With his large gifts of grace to store.
Thy gentle Father, best of friends,
To thee, nor loss, nor harm intends;
Though tost on a tempestuous main,
No wreck thy vessel shall sustain.
3 On His sure faithful arm divine,
Firm let thy fastening trust recline;
Sweet light shall from the tranquil skies
Like a fair dawn before thee rise.
Come, backward soul, to God resign!
Peace, his best blessing, shall be thine;
Boldly reclining on his care,
Cast all thy burdens only there.
|