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OF Omnipresent Grace I sing;

L. M.-No. 1.

For, though I take the morning's wing
And dwell beyond the outer sea,
Yet art Thou present there with me.

2 Thy hand shall lead me by the way,
Thy right hand be my staff and stay;
Though darkness compass me around,
Night shall be light where Thou art found.
3 Where Thou art, darkness cannot stay,
Thou turnest darkness into day;

Both night and light are one to Thee:
In darkness Thou still seest me.

4 Thine eye beheld me yet unborn,
And watched my steps from earliest morn;
My ways are written in Thy book:
By Thee I live, to Thee I look.

5 Thy thoughts are precious to my heart;
Thy presence bids all care depart;
I lay me down, Thou art with me;
I wake-and still I am with Thee.

6 Lord, try my way and me anew;
Prove Thou my heart and make it true,
And lead me in the better way,

To life, to Thee-for aye and aye.

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THE Lord my pasture shall prepare,

No. 6.

And feed me with a shepherd's care;
His presence shall my wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful eye:

My noon-day walks He shall attend.
And all my midnight hours defend.

2 Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill,
For Thou, O Lord, art with me still;
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.

174

L. M.-No. 1.

THY ways, O Lord! with wise design,
Are framed upon Thy throne above,
And every dark and bending line
Meets in the centre of Thy love.

2 With feeble light, and half obscure,
Poor mortals Thine arrangements view;
Not knowing that the least are sure,
And the mysterious just and true.

3 Thy flock, Thine own peculiar care,
Though now they seem to roam uneyed,
Are led or driven only where

They best and safest may abide.

4 They neither know nor trace the way:
But whilst they trust Thy guardian eye,
Their feet shall ne'er to ruin stray,
Nor shall the weakest fail or die.

5 My favored soul shall meekly learn
To lay her reason at Thy throne;
Too weak Thy secrets to discern,
I'll trust Thee for my guide alone.

175

C. M.-No. 2.

OD moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform,

He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

2 Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,

He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sov'reign will.

3 Ye fearful saints! fresh courage take:
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and will break
In blessings on your head.

4 Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

5 His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding ev'ry hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

6 Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

176

OUR

No. 52.

UR God is true!-Them He will ne'er forsake
For whom His love He shows;

Our God is true!-We shall His care-partake

In all our joys and woes;

His wings will spread their shelter o'er us: Though mountains quake, earth yawn before us, Our God is true!

2 Our God is true!-He is a faithful Friend,
We from experience know;

And, rest assured, He will our souls defend
From ev'ry watchful foe.

His cov'nant love gives no denial
To humble faith, in hours of trial,-
Our God is true!

3 Our God is true!--Never forget, my soul,
How kind and true He is!

Be true to God!-Let this thy life control
And be devoutly His!

From loving Him let nothing drive thee!
And of this stay let none deprive thee,—
Our God is true!

177

C. M.-No. 2.

OUR God, our Help in ages past,

Our Hope for years to come,
Our Shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal Home!

2 Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure:
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

3 Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
For aye wilt be the same.

4 A thousand ages in Thy sight

Are like an evening gone;

Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;

They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

6 O God, our Help in ages past,
Our Hope for years to come,

Be Thou our Guard while troubles last,
And our eternal Home!

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THE WORD.

L. M.-No. 1.

'T WAS by an order from the Lord,

The ancient prophets spoke His word;

His Spirit did their tongues inspire,

And warmed their hearts with heavenly fire.

2 The works and wonders which they wrought
Confirmed the messages they brought:
The prophet's pen succeeds His breath,
To save the holy words from death.

3 Great God! mine eyes with pleasure look
Upon Thy precious holy book;

There my Redeemer's face I see,

And read His name who died for me.

4 Let all false raptures of the mind Be lost, and vanish in the wind;