638

C. M
Overwhelming grief.
THOU, who in the olive shade,

When the dark hour came on,
Didst, with a breath of heavenly aid,

Strengthen thy suff'ring Son,-
2 0, by the anguish of that night,

Send us down blest relief;
Or, to the chasten’d, let thy might

Hallow this whelming grief. 3 And thou, that, when the starry sky

Saw the dread strife begun, Didst teach adoring faith to cry,

Father, thy will be done : 4 By thy meek Spirit, thou, of all

That e'er have mourn'd the chief, Blest Saviour, if the stroke must fall,

Hallow this whelming grief. 639

10th P. M. 8 lines 85 Happiness of those whom God correcteth. OW happy the sorrowful man,

Whose sorrow is sent from above! Indulged with a visit of pain,

Chastised by omnipotent love; The Author of all his distress

He comes by affliction to know, And God he in heaven shall bless,

That ever he suffer'd below. 2 Thus, thus may I happily grieve,

And bear the intent of his rod; The marks of adoption receive

The strokes of a merciful God: With nearer access to his throne,

My burden of folly confess; The cause of my miseries own,

And cry for an answer of peace.

HOW

3 O Father of mercies, on me,

On me, in affliction, bestow
A power of applying to thee,-

A sanctified use of my wo:
I would, in a spirit of prayer,

To all thy appointments submit;
The pledge of my happiness bear,

And joyfully die at thy feet.
4 Then, Father, and never till then,

I all the felicity prove,
Of living a moment in pain,

Of dying in Jesus's love:
A sufferer here with my Lord,

With Jesus above I sit down;
Receive an eternal reward,

And glory obtain in a crown.

640

4th P. M. 886, 886. Death of a relative or friend. F death our friends and us divide,

IF chide,

Or frown, our tears to see;
Restrain'd from passionate excess,
Thou bidd'st us mourn in calm distress

For them that rest in thee.
2 We feel a strong immortal hope,
Which bears our mournful spirits up,

Beneath their mountain load; Redeem'd from death, and grief, and pain, We soon shall find our friend again

Within the arms of God. 3 Pass a few fleeting moments more, And death the blessing shall restore

Which death has snatch'd away; For us thou wilt the summons send, And give us back our parted friend,

In that eternal day.

TAU

641

L. M. Sustaining grace prayed for. AUGHT by our Lord, we will not pray

Out of the world to be removed ; But keep us, in our evil day,

Till patient faith is fully proved. 2 From sin, the world, and Satan's snare,

The members of thy Son defend, Till all thy character we bear,

And grace matured in glory end.

JEST

642

9th P. M. 87, 87. Bereavement and resignation. ESUS, while our hearts are bleeding

O’er the spoils that death has won, We would, at this solemn meeting,

Calmly say,—Thy will be done.
2 Though cast down, we're not forsaken;

Though afflicted, not alone :
Thou didst give, and thou hast taken;

Blessed Lord,—Thy will be done. 3 Though to-day we're fill’d with mourning,

Mercy still is on the throne; With thy smiles of love returning,

We can sing,—Thy will be done. 4 By thy hands the boon was given;

Thou hast taken but thine own: Lord of earth, and God of heaven,

Evermore,—Thy will be done.

643

26th P. M. 76, 76, 76, 76.
Exulting in the favour of God.
thee, our God and Saviour,

Our hearts exulting spring,
Rejoicing in thy favour,

Thou everlasting King :

We'll celebrate thy glory,

With all the saints above; And tell the wondrous story

Of thy redeeming love. 2 Soon as the morn with roses

Bedecks the dewy east, And when the sun reposes

Upon the ocean's breast; Our voice in supplication,

Jehovah, thou shalt hear; O grant us thy salvation,

And be thou ever near. 3 By thee through life supported,

We pass the dang’rous road,
By heavenly hosts escorted

Up to their bright abode;
There cast our crowns before thee,

Our toils and conflicts o'er,
And day and night adore thee,

Forever, ever more.

THE CLOSET. 644

C. M. Retirement and meditation. AR from the world, O Lord, I flee,

a

From scenes where Satan wages still

His most successful war.
2 The calm retreat, the silent shade,

With prayer and praise agree;
And seem by thy sweet bounty made

For those who follow thee.
3 There, if thy Spirit touch the soul,

And grace her mean abode;
O with what peace, and joy, and love,

Does she commune with God!

FA

4 Author and Guardian of my life,

Sweet Source of light divine, And all harmonious names in one,

My Saviour,—thou art mine! 5 The thanks I owe thee, and the love,

A boundless, endless store,
Shall echo through the realms above

When time shall be no more. 645

C. M. Enter into thy closet. ATHER of Jesus Christ, my Lord,

I humbly seek thy face; Encouraged by the Saviour's word

To ask thy pard’ning grace. 2 Ent’ring into my closet, I

The busy world exclude;
In secret prayer for mercy cry,

And groan to be renewid.
3 Far from the paths of men, to thec

I solemnly retire;
See, thou who dost in secret see,

And grant my heart's desire. 4 Fain would I all thy goodness feel,

And know my sins forgiven; And do on earth thy perfect will,

As angels do in heaven. 646

C. M.
Secret blessings.
YATHER divine, thy piercing eye

Sees through the darkest night;
In deep retirement thou art nigh,

With heart-discerning sight.
2 May that observing eye survey

My faithful homage paid,
With every morning's dawning ray,

And every evening's shade.