133.

C. M.

BEDDOME.

Providence and Grace Unsearchable.

1 ALMIGHTY God, thy wondrous works
Of providence and grace,
An angel's perfect mind exceed,
And all our pride abase.

2 Stupendous heights! amazing depths!
Creatures in vain explore;

Or if a transient glimpse we gain,
'Tis faint, and quickly o'er.

3 Though all the mysteries lie concealed
Beyond what we can see,

Grant us the knowledge of ourselves,
The knowledge, Lord, of thee.

134.

L. M.

*BEDDOME.

Providence Unsearchable.

1 Wait, O my soul, thy Maker's will;
Tumultuous passions, all be still;
Nor let a murmuring thought arise ;-
His ways are just his counsels wise.

2 Thick darkness round his throne he draws;
His work performs-conceals the cause;
But though his methods are unknown,
Judgment and truth support his throne.

3 In heaven, and earth, and air, and seas,
He executes his firm decrees;

And age to age has still confessed
That what he does is ever best.

4 Wait, then, my soul, submissive wait,
Prostrate before his awful seat;
And, mid the terrors of his rod,
Trust in a wise and gracious God.

135.

S. M.

*JERVIS.

God's Providence in National Overturns.

1 God, to correct the world,

In wrath is slow to rise,

But comes at length in thunder clothed,

And darkness veils the skies.

2 His banners, lifted high,

The nations' God declare,

And, stained with blood, with terrors marked,
Spread wonder and despair.

3 All earthly pomp and pride
Are in his presence lost-

Empires o'erturned-thrones, sceptres, crowns
In wild confusion tost.

4 While war and wo prevail,
And desolation wide,

In God, the sovereign Lord of all,
The righteous still confide.

5 Mysterious is the course
Of his tremendous way;
His path is in the trackless winds,
And in the foaming sea,

6 He'll curb the lawless power,
The deadly wrath, of man,
And all the windings will unfold
Of his own gracious plan.

136.

C. M.

HERVEY.

God's Providence always Kind.

1 THROUGH all the downward tracts of time
God's watchful eye surveys:
O, who so wise to choose our lot,
And regulate our ways?

2 1 cannot doubt his bounteous love,
Immeasurably kind:

To his unerring, gracious will
Be every wish resigned.

3 Good when he gives, supremely good
Nor less when he denies;

Even crosses from his sovereign hand
Are blessings in disguise.

137.

C. M.

ANONYMOUS.

God Just and Wise in Afflictions.

1 IF Providence, to try my heart,
Afflictions should prepare,
To God submissive may I bend,
And keep me from despair.

2 Whate'er he orders must be just;
Then let me kiss the rod,
Nor, poorly sunk, at all distrust
The goodness of my God.

3 The mind to which I owe my own
To guide this mind is wise,

And he to whom my faults are known
The fittest to chastise.

4 Then, till life's latest sands are run,
O teach me, Power Divine,
Still to reply, 'Thy will be done,
Whate'er becomes of mine.'

138.

S. M.

DODDRIDGE.

God Wise and Merciful in Chastisements.

1 How gracious and how wise
Is our chastising God!

And O how rich the blessings are
That blossom from his rod !

2 He lifts it up on high

With pity in his heart,

That every stroke his children feel
May grace and peace impart.

3 Instructed thus, they bow,

And own his sovereign sway; They turn their erring footsteps back To his forsaken way.

4 His covenant love they seek,

And seek the happy bands
That closer still engage their hearts

To honor his commands.

5 Our Father! we consent To discipline divine,

And bless the pains that make our souls Still more completely thine.

139.

L. M.

WATTS.

God's Protection, Grace, and Truth. Ps. 57.

1 My God, in whom are all the springs
Of boundless love and grace unknown!
Hide me beneath thy spreading wings
Till the dark cloud is overblown.

2 Up to the heavens I send my cry:
The Lord will my desires perform;
He sends his angels from the sky,
And saves me from the threatening storm.

3 Be thou exalted, O my God!

Above the heavens where angels dwell;
Thy power on earth be known abroad,
And land to land thy wonders tell.

4 My heart is fixed-my song shall raise
Immortal honors to thy name:

Awake, my tongue, to sound his praise-
My tongue, the glory of my frame.

5 High o'er the earth his mercy reigns,
And reaches to the utmost sky;
His truth to endless years remains
When lower worlds disso.ve and die.

6 Be thou exalted, O my God!

Above the heavens where angels dwell;
Thy power on earth be known abroad,
And land to land thy wonders tell.