Because when we forsook thy ways,
Nor kept thy holy will,

-Thou wert not an avenging Judge,
But a gracious Father still;
Because we have forgot thee, Lord,
But thou hast not forgot;
Because we have forsaken thee,
But thou forsakest not.

Because, O Lord, thou lovedst us

With everlasting love;

Because thou gav'st thy Son to die,

That we might live above;

Because, when we were heirs of wrath,
Thou gav'st the hopes of heaven;
We love, because we much have sinned,
And much have been forgiven.

"Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." - Isa. 50: 10.

"God bids us to draw near to him, simply to do it, and he, in his good time, will give an answer to our prayers. It is an exercise of faith when our minds are clouded, still to trust, and wait, and look, and look for our answer in his own good time."

Children of God, who, pacing slow,
Your pilgrim path pursue,

In strength and weakness, joy and woe,
To God's high calling true.

Why move ye thus, with lingering tread,
A doubtful, mourning band?

Why faintly hangs the drooping head?
Why fails the feeble hand?

Oh! weak to know a Saviour's power,

To feel a Father's care;

A moment's toil, a passing shower,
Is all the grief ye share.

The Lord of light, though veiled awhile,
He hide his noontide ray,

Shall soon in lovelier beauty smile
To gild the closing day.

And bursting through the dusky cloud
That dared his power invest,
Ride throned in light o'er every cloud,
Triumphant to his rest.

Then, Christian, dry the falling tear,
The faithless doubt remove;
Redeemed at last from guilt and fear,
Oh! wake thy heart to love.

A Saviour's blood hath bought thy peace;
Thy, Saviour God adore ;

He bade the throb of terror cease,

The pains of guilt he bore.

"I will not leave you comfortless."- John 14: 18.

"The two great pillars of a sinner's hope are, what Christ has done for us in the flesh-and what he is doing for us in the spirit."

Blest Comforter divine,

Let rays of heavenly love

Amid our gloom and darkness shine

And guide our souls above.

Turn us, with gentle voice,
From every sinful way,
And bid the mourning saint rejoice,

Though earthly joys decay.

By thine inspiring breath

Make every cloud of care,

And e'en the gloomy vale of death,
A smile of glory wear

"As thy days, so shall thy strength be." - Deut. 33: 35.

"There are some particular promises in the word of God, made in an especial manner, which would never have been ours had we remained in prosperity."

Afflicted saint, to Christ draw near,
The Saviour's gracious promise hear;
His faithful word declares to thee,
That, as thy days, thy strength shall be.

Let not thy heart despond and say,
"How shall I stand the trying day?"
He has engaged, by firm decree,

That, as thy days, thy strength shall be.

Thy faith is weak, thy foes are strong,
And, if the conflict should be long,
Thy Lord will make the tempter flee;
For, as thy days, thy strength shall be.

When called to bear the weighty cross,
Or share affliction, pain, or loss,
Or deep distress, or poverty—
Still, as thy days, thy strength shall be.

When ghastly death appears in view,
Christ's presence shall thy fears subdue :
He comes to set thy spirit free,

And, as thy days, thy strength shall be.

"And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly."-Gen. 48: 14.

"God often blesses his children by crossing his hands. We can not see the reasons of our afflictions, but must trust him that he has guided his hands wittingly.”

My times are in thy hands,

My God, I wish them there;

My life, my friends, my soul I leave,

Entirely to thy care.

My times are in thy hand,

Whatever they may be;

Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,

As best may seem to thee.

My times are in thy hand,
Why should I doubt or fear?
A Father's hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.

My times are in thy hand,

Jesus, the crucified;

The hand my cruel sins had pierced,
Is now my guard and guide.

My times are in thy hand,

I'll always trust in thee;

Till I have left this weary land,
And all thy glory see.

"For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know even as I am known."-1 Cor. 13: 12.

"In quietness and rest ye shall be saved. If men do any thing contrary to your heart, ye may ask both 'Who did it,' and 'What is done,' and 'Why?' When God hath done any such thing, we are to inquire, 'Who hath done it?' and to know that this cometh from the Lord."

Thy way, O God! is in the sea,
Thy paths I can not trace;
Nor comprehend the mystery

Of thy unbounded grace.

Here the dark veils of flesh and sense
My captive soul surround;
Mysterious deeps of providence

My wondering thoughts confound.