3 As a mother counts the days,
Till her absent son she see,

Longs and watches, weeps and prays-
So our spirits long for thee!

4 Come, and let us feel thee nigh,
Then thy sheep shall feed in peace;
Plenty bless us from on high,
Evil from among us cease!

5 Let thy light be ne'er withdrawn,
Golden days afford us long!
Thus we pray at early dawn-
This shall be our evening song!

HYMN CCLIX.

Peace restored.

NEWTON.

OH, speak that gracious word again,

And cheer my broken heart!

No voice but thine can sooth my pain,
Or bid my fears depart!

2 And canst thou still vouchsafe to own
A wretch so vile as I?

And may I still approach thy throne,
And Abba, Father, cry?

3 Oh, then, let saints and angels join,
And help me to proclaim

The grace that heal'd a breach like mine, And put my foes to shame!

4 My Saviour, by his powerful word,
Has turn'd my night to day;
And his salvation's joys restor❜d,
Which I had sinn'd away.

5 Dear Lord, I wonder and adore,
Thy grace is all divine;

1

Oh, keep me, that I sin no more,
Against such love as thine.

HYMN CCLX.

The Believer's Safety.

NEWTON.

IAT man no guard or weapon needs,

THAT

Whose heart the blood of Jesus knows;

But safe may pass, if duty leads,

Through burning sands, or mountain-snows.

2 Releas'd from guilt, he feels no fear; Redemption is his shield and tower; He sees his Saviour always near,

To help in every trying hour.

3 Though I am weak, and Satan strong,
And often to assault me tries,
When Jesus is shield and song,
Abash'd the wolf before me flies.

my

4 His love possessing I am blest,

Secure whatever change may come:
Whether I go to East or West,

With him I still shall be at home. 5 If plac'd beneath the northern pole,

Though winter reigns with rigour there; His gracious beams would cheer my soul, And make a Spring throughout the year.

6 Or, if the desert's sun-burnt soil

My lonely dwelling e'er should prove, His presence would support my toil, Whose smile is life, whose voice is love.

L

HYMN CCLXI.

Man by Nature, Grace, and Glory.

NEWTON.

ORD, what is man! extremes how wide,
In this mysterious nature join!

The flesh, to worms and dust ally'd,
The soul, immortal and divine!

2 Divine at first, a holy flame
Kindled by the Almighty's breath;
Till stain'd by sin, it soon became
The seat of darkness, strife, and death,
3 But Jesus, oh! amazing grace!
Assum'd our nature as his own,
Obey'd and suffer'd in our place,
Then took it with him to his throne.
4 Now what is man, when grace reveals
The virtue of a Saviour's blood?
Again a life divine he feels,

Despises earth, and walks with God.
5 And what, in yonder realms above,
Is ransom'd man ordain'd to be?
With honour, holiness, and love,
No seraph more adorn'd than he.

6 Nearest the throne, and first in song,
Man shall his hallelujahs raise;

While wond'ring angels round him throng,
And swell the chorus of his praise.

1

COWPER.

HYMN CCLXII.

Walking with God. Gen. v. 24.

OH!

COWPER.

H! for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame;
A light to shine upon the road

That leads me to the Lamb!

2 Where is the blessedness I knew
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul-refreshing view
Of Jesus, and his word?

3 What peaceful hours I once enjoy'd!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void,
The world can never fill.

4 Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest;

I hate the sins that made thee mourn,
And drove thee from my breast:

5 The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,

Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;

So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

HYMN CCLXIII.

Jehovah-Jireh. The Lord will provide.

THE

chap. xxii. 14.

Gen.

COWPER.

HE saints should never be dismay'd,
Nor sink in hopeless fear;

For when they least expect his aid,
The Saviour will appear.

2 This Abraham found, he rais'd the knife,
God saw, and said, "Forbear;"
Yon ram shall yield his meaner life;
Behold the victim there.

3 Once David seem'd Saul's certain prey;
But hark! the foe's at hand*;
Saul turns his arms another way,
To save th' invaded land.

4 When Jonah sunk beneath the wave,
He thought to rise no more t;
But God prepar'd a fish to save,
And bear him to the shore.

5 Blest proofs of power and grace divine,
That meet us in his word!
May every deep-felt care of mine
Be trusted with the Lord.

6 Wait for his seasonable aid,
And though it tarry, wait:
The promise may be long delay'd,
But cannot come too late.

* Sam, xxiii. 7.

↑ Jonah i, 57.