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ACQUIESCENCE IN THE WILL OF GOD.

I

AUTHOR of good, we rest on thee:

Thine ever watchful eye Alone our real wants can see, Thy hand alone supply.

II

O! let thy fear within us dwell,
Thy love our footsteps guide;
That love shall vainer loves expel,
That fear, all fears beside.

III

And when, by passion's force misled,
Too oft, by stubborn will,
We blindly shun the latent good,
And grasp the specious ill

IV

Not what we wish, but what we want,
Let mercy still supply;

The good unask'd, o father! grant ;
The ill, though ask'd, deny.

SUBMISSION TO GOD.

I

O LORD! my best desires fulfil,
And help me to resign

Life, health, and comfort, to thy will,
And make thy pleasure mine.

II

Why should I shrink at thy command,
Whose love forbids my fears;
Or tremble at thy gracious hand,
That wipes away my tears?

III

No, let me rather freely yield,
What most I prize, to thee;
Who never hast a good withheld,
Or wilt withhold from me.

IV

Wisdom and mercy guide my way;
Shall I resist them both?
Short-sighted creature of a day,
And crush'd before the moth!

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But ah! my heart within me cries,
Still bind me to thy sway;

Else the next cloud that veils the skies
Drives all these thoughts away.

GRATITUDE TO GOD.

I

WHEN all thy mercies, o my GOD!
My reas'ning mind surveys;
Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.

II

Thy providence my life sustain'd,
And all my wants redress'd,
Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learnt
To form themselves in pray'r.

III

Unnumber'd comforts on my head
Thy tender care bestow'd,
Before my infant-heart conceiv'd

From whence those comforts flow'd.

IV

When in the slipp'ry paths of youth
With heedless step I ran,

Thine arm, unseen, convey'd me safe,
And led me up to man.

V

Thro' hidden dangers, toils and deaths, It gently clear'd my way;

Ev'n through the pleasing snares of vice, More to be fear'd than they.

THE SAME. (CONTINUED)

I

O how shall words, with equal warmth The gratitude declare,

That glows within my 'raptur'd heart! But thou canst read it there.

II

Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ ;
Nor is the least, a cheerful heart,
Which tastes those gifts with joy.

III

Through ev'ry period of my life
Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And, after death, in unknown worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

IV

When nature fails, and day and night
Divide thy works no more,
My ever grateful heart, O LORD!
Thy mercy shall adore.

V

Through all eternity to thee
A joyful song I'll raise;

For oh! eternity alone
Can utter all thy praise.

THANKS TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS.

I

GREAT GOD! Our joyful thanks to thee
Shall, like thy gifts, continual be:
In constant streams thy bounty flows,
Nor end, nor intermission knows.

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Thy kindness ev'ry want relieves,
Thy kindness ev'ry comfort gives;
Nor can we ever, LORD! be poor,
Who live on thine exhaustless store,

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If, what we ask thy will denies,
'Tis because thou art good and wise:
Afflictions, which may make us mourn,
Thou can'st, thou dost to blessings turn.

IV

Deep, LORD! upon our thankful breast,
Let all thy favours be imprest;
That we may never more forget
The whole, or any single debt.

V

May we, with grateful hearts, cach day, For daily gifts, our praises pay, Delighted may we always be,

And thanks for all things give to thee.

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