584. "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful."

2 Tim. ii. 13. P. M.

1 O MY distrustful heart,
How small thy faith appears!
But greater, Lord! Thou art,
Than all my doubts and fears.
Did Jesus once upon me shine?
Then Jesus is for ever mine.

2 Unchangeable His will;
Whatever be my frame,

His loving heart is still
Eternally the same.

My soul through many changes goes:
His love no variation knows.

3 Thou, Lord! wilt carry on,
And perfectly perform,
The work Thou hast begun
In me a sinful worm:

'Midst all my fear, and sin, and wo,
Thy Spirit will not let me go.

4 The bowels of Thy grace At first did freely move: I still shall see Thy face,

And feel that God is love. My soul into Thy arms I cast: I know I shall be saved at last.

585." Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" Psalm xlii. 5.

L. M.

1 BE still, my heart! these anxious cares
To thee are burdens, thorns, and snares:
They cast dishonour on thy Lord,
And contradict His gracious word.
2 When first, before His mercy-seat,
Thou didst to Him thy all commit,
He gave thee warrant, from that hour,
To trust His wisdom, love, and power.
3 Did ever trouble yet befall,
And He refuse to hear thy call?
And has He not His promise pass'd,
That thou shalt overcome at last?

4 He who has helped me hitherto,
Will help me all my journey through..
Then count thy present trials small,
For heaven will make amends for all.

586. "With whom is no variableness, neither shadow of

turning." Jam. i, 17. L. M.

1 WHEN darkness long has veiled my mind, And smiling day once more appears, Then, my Redeemer, then I find

The folly of my doubts and fears.A

2 Straight I upbraid my wandering heart, And blush that I should ever be A

A

Thus prone to act so base a part,
Or harbour one hard thought of Thee.

3 Oh, let me then at length be taught, What I am still so slow to learn; That God is love, and changes not,

Nor knows the shadow of a turn.

4 Sweet truth, and easy to repeat !
But, when my faith is sharply tried,
I find myself a learner yet,

Unskilful, weak, and apt to slide.

5 But, O my Lord! one look from Thee
Subdues the disobedient will;
Drives doubt and discontent away,
And Thy rebellious worm is still.

6 Thou art as ready to forgive,
As I am ready to repine:

Thou, therefore, all the praise receive;
Be shame and self-abhorrence mine.

587."God left him, to try him, that he might know all that

was in his heart." 2 Chron. xxxii. 31. L. M.

1 I ASKED the Lord, that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek more earnestly His face.

2 'Twas He who taught me thus to pray; And He, I trust, has answered prayer; But it has been in such a way

As almost drove me to despair.

3 I hoped that, in some favoured hour, At once He'd answer my request, And, by His love's constraining power, → Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

4 Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

5 Yea, more; with His own hand he seemed Intent to aggravate my wo;

Crossed all the fair designs I schemed, Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

6 Lord, why is this? I trembling cried : Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death? ""Tis in this way," the Lord replied, "I answer prayer for grace and faith. 7 "These inward trials I employ,

"From self and pride to set thee free; "And break thy schemes of earthly joy, "That thou mayst seek thine all in Me." 588. "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not."

Luke xxii. 32. L. M.

1 THOU who for Peter's faith didst pray !
Against whose Blessed-Self were hurled
The Tempter's darts! be Thou my stay ·
Help me to overcome the world.

2 Thy grace can make the boastful meek,
The wavering firm, the sensual pure;
Put heavenly might upon the weak,
And make them happy who endure.
3 Oh, still that needful grace afford.
On Thee my trembling soul I cast.
Perfect Thy work within me, Lord!
And own my worthless name at last.

589." Let not the water-flood overflow me." Psa. lxix. 15.

L.M.

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 fixed remain,
That none shall seek Thy face in vain?
4 That were a grief I could not bear,
Didst Thou not hear and answer prayer;
But a prayer-hearing, answering God
Supports me under every 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, despised, forgot,
Yet God, my God, forgets me not.
And he is safe, and must succeed,
For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead.