Still let me trust thy pow'r and love,
And dwell beneath thy feet.
Hope in the contemplation of the divine perfections.
WHY sinks my weak desponding mind?
Why heaves my heart the anxious sigh?
Can sov'reign goodness be unkind? Am I not safe, if GOD be nigh? 2 He holds all nature in his hand: That gracious hand, on which I live, Does life, and time, and death command, And has immortal joys to give. 3 'Tis he supports this fainting frame, On him alone my hopes recline: The wondrous glories of his name, How wide they spread! how bright they
4 Infinite wisdom! boundless pow'r! Unchanging faithfulness and love -Here let me trust, while I adore, Nor from my refuge e'er remove. 5 My God! if thou art mine indeed, Then I have all my heart can crave; A present help in times of need, Still kind to hear, and strong to save. 6 Forgive my doubts, O gracious LORD! And ease the sorrows of my breast; Speak to my heart the healing word, That thou art mine-and I am blest. 388. C.M.
388. C.M. MRS. STEELE.
The eternity and perfections of GOD.
EARTH's old foundations GOD hath laid:
The heav'ns, a glorious frame,
By his almighty hand were spread,
And speak their maker's name.
2 Their shining wonders all shall fade;
By thy controlling pow'r,
Chang'd like a vesture quite decay'd;
But thou shalt still endure.
3 Thy bright perfections, all divine,
Eternal as thy days,
Through everlasting ages shine,
With undiminish'd rays.
4 Thy children's children, still thy care,
Shall own their father's GOD;
To latest times thy favour share,
And spread thy praise abroad.
389. C.M. WATTS.
The divine glories above our reason.
UR reason stretches all its wings
And climbs above the skies;
But still how far beneath thy feet
Our grov❜ling reason lies!
2 LORD, here we bend our humble souls,
And awfully adore:
For the weak pinions of the mind
Can stretch a thought no more.
3 Thy glories infinitely rise
Above our lab'ring tongue;
In vain the highest seraph tries
To form an equal song.
4 In humble notes our faith adores
The great eternal king;
While angels strain their nobler pow'ts, And sweep th' immortal string.
390. L.M. MRS. STEELE.
GOD the object of our trust.
HE LORD, my Saviour, is my light:
What terrors can my soul affright?
While God, my strength, my life, is near,
What potent arm shall make me fear?
2 Should num'rous hosts besiege me round,
My steadfast heart no fear shall wound:
Though war should rise in dread array,
GOD is my strength, my trust, my stay.
3 When troubles rise, my guardian, GOD,
Will hide me safe in his abode:
Firm as a rock my hope shall stand,
Sustain'd by his almighty hand.
4 This only boon my heart desires;
To this my ardent wish aspires:
This will I seek with restless care,
Till GoD attend my humble pray'r:
5 In his own house to spend my days,
My life devoted to his praise:
There would my soul his glories trace,
And learn the wonders of his grace.
6 Thou sacred spring of all my joys!
Whene'er I raise my plaintive voice
O let thy sov'reign mercy hear,
And answer all my humble pray'r.
391. L.M. MRS. STEELE.
The same subject.
OD is the confidence and stay
Of the wide earth's remotest ends;
And those who try the dang'rous sea-
On thee their hope, their all depends.
2 Thine awful word, with potent sound,
Firm bade the solid mountains stand:
Thy pow'r encircles nature round:
All nature rests upon thy hand.
3 That word which stills the raging seas,
When the loud waves tempestuous roar,
Commands the warring world to peace;
And noise and tumult are no more.
4 Thy dreadful signs display'd abroad,
Fill trembling nations with surprise :
The trembling nations own the GOD,
And lift their supplicating eyes.
392. L.M. MRS. STEELE.
GOD's care of his people.
1 HY way, O GOD! thy wondrous way, While in thy temple I survey;
Struck with astonishment, I cry,
Where is a pow'r so great, so high!
2 Whoe'er surveys thy works must own
That thou art GOD, and thou alone:
Thy favours to thy chosen care
The wonders of thy pow'r declare. 3 Thy potent arm, for ever near,
Controll'd their foes, controll'd their fear;
And Jacob's sons, distinguish'd race!
Confess'd thy kind delivering grace.
4 The waters, with thy presence aw'd,
Beheld, and own'd their maker, GOD:
The ocean shook with all its waves
And trembl'd thro' its deepest caves.
5 The full clouds pour'd their wat❜ry store:
Amid the storm's impetuous roar,
Thy dreadful arrows flew abroad,
And sounding skies proclaim the GOD!
6 Thine awful voice in thunder broke,
Heav'n listen'd while th' Almighty spoke:
While o'er the world keen lightnings spread,
Earth trembl'd with unusual dread.
7 Thy path, O LORD! thy trackless way
Lies in the deep unfathom'd sea;
No mortal thought can ever trace
Thy steps of wisdom, pow'r, and grace.
8 Thy people found thy guardian care;
Where'er they wander'd, GOD was there;
Till guided by thy prophet's hand,
They reach'd secure the promis'd land.
393. C. M. WATTS.
Israel led to Canaan, and Christians to heaven.
GIVE thanks to God; he reigns above
Kind are his thoughts, his name is love:
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