LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS.
1 GOD 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 shall 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 flow'r.
6 Blind unbelief is sure to err,* And scan his work in vain :
GOD is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain.
'TIS my happiness below
Not to live without the cross; But the Saviour's pow'r to know, Sanctifying ev'ry loss.
Trials must and will befall; But with humble faith to see Love inscrib'd upon them all, This is happiness to me.
2 GOD, in Israel, sows the seeds Of affliction, pain and toil;
Thefe spring up and choak the weeds, Which would else o'erspread the soil : Trials make the promise sweet; Trials give new life to pray'r; Trials bring me to his feet, Lay me low, and keep me there.
3 Did I meet no trials here,
No chastisement by the way; Might I not, with reason, fear, I should prove a cast-away : Bastards may escape the rod*, Sunk in earthly vain delight; But the true-born child of GOD Must not, would not, if he might.
AFFLICTIONS SANCTIFIED BY THE WORD.
1 O, HOW I love thy holy word, Thy gracious covenant, O LORD! It guides me in the peaceful way; I think upon it all the day.
2 What are the mines of shining wealth, The strength of youth, the bloom of health! What are all joys compar'd with those Thine everlasting word bestows!
3 Long unafflicted, undismay'd, In pleasure's path secure I stray'd; Thou mad'st me feel thy chast'ning rod,* And straight I turn'd unto my GOD.
What though it pierc'd my fainting heart, I bless thine hand that caus'd the smart; It taught my tears awhile to flow,
But sav'd me from eternal woe.
5 Oh! hadst thou left me unchastis'd, Thy precept I had still despis'd; And still the snare, in secret laid, Had my unwary feet betray'd.
6 I love thee, therefore, O my GOD, And breathe towards thy dear abode 9 Where in thy presence fully blest,
Thy chosen saints forever rest.
I THE billows swell, the winds are high, Clouds overcast my wint❜ry sky;
Out of the depths to thee I call,
My fears are great, my strength is small.
2 O LORD, the pilot's part perform,
And guide and guard me through the storm; Defend me from each threat'ning ill, Control the waves, say, "Peace be still."
3 Amidst the roaring of the sea,
My soul still hangs her hope on thee; Thy constant love, thy faithful care, Is all that saves me from despair.
4 Dangers of ev'ry shape and name Attend the followers of the Lamb, Who leave the world's deceitful shore, And leave it to return no more.
5 Though tempest-toss'd, and half a wreck, My Saviour through the floods I seek; Let neither winds, nor stormy rain, Force back my shatter'd bark again.
LOOKING UPWARDS IN A STORM
1 GOD of my life, to thee I call, Afflicted at thy feet I fall ;*
When the great water-floods prevail, Leave not my trembling heart to fail! 2 Friend of the friendless and the faint! Where should I lodge my deep complaint? Where but with thee, whose open door Invites the helpless and the poor!
3 Did ever mourner plead with thee, And thou refuse that mourner's plea ? Does not the word still fix'd remain, That none shall seek thy face in vain ? 4 That were a grief I could not bear, Did'st thou not hear and answer pray'r; But a pray'r hearing, answering God, Supports me under ev'ry load.
5 Fair is the lot that's cast for me; I have an Advocate with thee ; They, whom the world caresses most, Have no such privilege to boast.
6 Poor though I am, despis'd, forgot,t Yet GOD, my GOD, forgets me not; And he is safe, and must succeed, For whom the LORD Vouchsafes to plead.
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