4 Yet will I ne'er repent my choice
I'll ne'er withdraw my trust;
I know thee, Lord, a powerful friend,
And kind, and wise, and just.
5 To doubt thy goodness would be base
Ingratitude in me;
Past favours shall renew my hopes;
And fix my faith in Thee!
LANGHORNE.
HYMN LXIII.
To the Eternal Providence.
LIFE of the world, Immortal Mind!
Father of all the human kind!
Whose boundless eye that knows no rest,
Intent on nature's ample breast,
Explores the space of earth and skies,
And sees eternal incense rise!
2 Though thou this transient being gave,
That shortly sinks into the grave;
Yet 'twas thy goodness, still to give
A being that can think and live;
In all thy works thy wisdom see,
And stretch it's towering mind to thee!
S And still this poor, contracted span,
This life, that bears the name of man,
From thee derives it's vital ray,
A spark that lives an endless day!
Thy bounty still the sunshine pours,
That gilds it's morn and evening hours.
4 Through error's maze, through folly's night,
The lamp of Scripture lends me light:
When stern affliction waves her rod,
My heart confides in thee, my God!
When nature shrinks oppress'd with woes,
E'en then she finds in thee repose!
5 Affliction flies, and hope returns,
Her lamp with brighter splendour burns,
And love with all his smiling train,
And peace and joy are here again :
These, these I know 'twas thine to give;
I trusted—and, behold I live!
6 O may I still thy favour prove!
Still grant me gratitude and love:
Let thy good Spirit guide my heart!
Nor peace, nor hope, nor joy depart :
To thee my humble voice I raise ;
Forgive, while I presume to praise !
WATTS.
HYMN LXIV.
Worshipping with Fear.
"HO dares attempt th' eternal name,
With notes of mortal sound?
Dangers and glories guard the theme,
And spread despair around:
Destruction waits t' obey his frown,
And heaven attends his smile;
A wreath of lightning arms his crown,
But love adorns it still.
2 Celestial King, our spirits lie,
Trembling beneath thy feet,
And wish, and cast a longing eye,
To reach thy lofty seat :
When shall we see the Great Unknown,
And in thy presence stand?
Reveal the splendours of thy throne,
But shield us with thy hand.
3 In thee what endless wonders meet!
What various glory shines!
The crossing rays too fiercely beat
Upon our fainting minds!
Angels are lost in sweet surprise,
If thou unveil thy grace;
And humble awe runs through the skies,
When wrath arrays thy face.
4 Thy works the strongest seraph sings
In a too feeble strain,
And labours hard on all his strings
To reach thy thoughts in vain:"
Created powers, how weak they be!
How short their praises fall!
So much akin to nothing we,
And Thou, th' Eternal All!.
Divine Sovereignty; or, God's Dominion and Decrees.
KEEP silence, all created things,
And wait your Maker's nod,
My soul stands trembling while she sings
The honours of her God.
2 Life, death, and hell, and worlds unknown, Hang on his firm decree;
He sits on no precarious throne,
Nor borrows leave to BE.
3 Chain'd to his throne a volume lies,
With all the fates of men ;
With every angel's form and size,
Drawn by th' eternal pen.
4 His providence unfolds the book,
And makes his counsels shine;
Each opening leaf, and every stroke,
Fulfils some deep design.
5 Here he exalts neglected worms
To sceptres and a crown;
Anon the following page he turns,
And treads the monarch down.
6 Nor Gabriel asks the reason why,
Nor God the reason gives;
Nor dares the favourite angel pry
Between the folded leaves.
7 In his fair book of life and grace,
may I see my name
Recorded in some humble place,
Beneath my Lord the Lamb!
HYMN LXVI.
The Creator and Creatures.
HY voice, great God, produc'd the spheres,
And bade revolving planets shine;
But nothing like thyself appears,
Through all these spacious works of thine.
2 Still restless nature dies and grows ;
From change to change thy creatures run :
Thy being no succession knows,
And all thy vast designs are one.
3 A glance of thine runs through the globes, Rules the bright worlds, and moves their frame;
Broad sheets of light compose thy robes;
Thy guards are form'd of living flame.
4 Thrones and dominions round thee fall,
And worship in submissive forms;
Thy presence shakes this lower ball,
This little dwelling-place of worms.
5 How shall affrighted mortals dare
To sing thy glory or thy grace!
Beneath thy feet we lie so far,
And see but shadows of thy face.
6 Who can behold the blazing light?
Who can approach consuming flame?
None but thy wisdom knows thy might!
None but thy word can speak thy name!
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