Page images
PDF
EPUB

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes, Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies:

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee:

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

133

I

NCARNATE God! the soul, that knows
Thy Name's mysterious power,
Shall dwell in undisturb'd repose,
Nor fear the trying hour.

Angels, unseen, attend the saints,
And bear them in their arms;
To cheer the spirit when it faints,
And guard their life from harms.
The angels' Lord himself is nigh
To them that love his name,
Ready to save them, when they cry,
And put their foes to shame.

Crosses and changes are their lot,
Long as they sojourn here;

But since their Saviour changes not,
What have the saints to fear?

134

10 Zion's hill I lift mine eyes,
From thence expecting aid:

From Zion's hill, and Zion's God
Who heaven and earth hath made.

Rest, then, my soul, in safety rest,
Thy Guardian will not sleep,
His powerful hand and watchful eye
Will Israel safely keep.

Shelter'd beneath the Almighty wings,
Thou shalt securely rest,

Where neither sun nor moon shall thee,
By day or night, molest.

At home, abroad, in peace, in war,
Thy God shall thee defend;
Conduct thee through life's pilgrimage,
And crown thy journey's end.

135

ПHE Lord my shepherd is,

THE

And He my soul will keep;
He knoweth who are his,

And watcheth o'er his sheep.
Away with every anxious fear:
I cannot want while He is near.
His wisdom doth provide
The pasture where I feed:
Where the still waters glide
Along the quiet mead,

He leads my feet; and, when I roam,
O'ertakes and brings the wanderer home.
He leads himself the way

His faithful flock should take.

Them who his voice obey,

His love will ne'er forsake;

For He has pledged his holy name;
He who for ever is the same.

L

Let me but feel him near,
Death's gloomy pass in view,
I'll walk without a fear

The shadowy valley through:

With rod and staff, my Shepherd's care
Will guide my steps, and guard me there.
Still is my table spread;

My foes stand silent by;
I feed on living bread;

My cruse is never dry:

And surely love and mercy will
Attend me on my journey still.
Still hope and grateful praise
Shall form my constant song;
Shall cheer my gloomiest days,
And tune my dying tongue :
Until my ransom'd soul shall rise,
To praise him better in the skies.

136

S God leads me, will I go,
Nor choose my way.

Let him choose the joy or woe
Of every day :

They cannot hurt my soul,
'Because in his control:

I leave to him the whole,

His children may.

As God leads me, I am still
Within his hand:

Though his purpose my self-will
Doth oft withstand.

Yet I wish that none
But his will be done,

Till the end be won

That he hath plann'd.

As God leads, I am content;
He will take care!
All things by his will are sent
That I must bear.

137

To him I take my fear,
My wishes while I'm here;
The way will all seem clear,
When I am there!

As God leads me, it is mine
To follow him;
Soon all shall wonderfully shine,
Which now seems dim.

Fulfill'd be his decree!

What he shall choose for me,
That shall my portion be,
Up to the brim!

As God leads me, so my heart
In faith shall rest.

No grief nor fear my soul shall part
From Jesus' breast.

In sweet belief I know,

[blocks in formation]

life doth go

Since God permitteth so

That must be best.

S through this wilderness I stray,

Be Thou my light, be Thou my way;

No foes, no evil, need I fear,

If thou, my Lord, my God, art near.

When rising floods my soul o'erflow,
When sinks my strength in waves of woe,
Saviour, thy timely aid impart,

And raise my head, and cheer my heart.

Teach me, where'er thy steps I see,
Dauntless, untired, to follow thee;
O let thy hand support me still,
And lead me to thy holy hill.

If rough and thorny be the way,
My strength proportion to my day;
Till toil and grief and pain shall cease,
Where all is calm and joy and peace.

138

WH

THAT tho' no flowers the fig-tree clothe, Tho' vines their fruit The labour of the olive fail,

And fields no meat supply:

deny,

Tho' from the fold, with sad surprise,
My flock cut off I see:

Tho' famine pine in empty stalls,
Where herds were wont to be:

Yet 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.

God is the treasure of my soul,

The source of lasting joy;

A joy which want shall not impair,
Nor death itself destroy.

« PreviousContinue »