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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