1 O LORD, my best desire fulfil,

And help me to resign

Life, health, and comfort to thy will,

And make thy pleasure mine.

2 Why should I shrink at thy command,
Whose love forbids my fears,
Or tremble at the gracious hand
That wipes away my tears?

3 No, let me rather freely yield
What most I prize to thee;
Who never hast a good withheld,
Or wilt withhold from me.

4 Thy favour all my journey through
Thou art engag'd to grant;
What else I want, or think I do,

"Tis better still to want.

5 Wisdom and mercy guide my way,
Shall I resist them both?

A poor blind creature of a day,
And crush'd before the moth!

6 But, ah! my inward spirit cries,

Still bind me to thy sway;

Else the next cloud that vails my skies
Drives all these thoughts away.

HYMN XXX.

Why should I complain?

C.

1 WHEN my Saviour, my Shepherd is near,
How quickly my sorrows depart!
New beauties around me appear,
New spirits enliven my heart:
His presence gives peace to my soul,
And Satan assaults me in vain;
While my Shepherd his power controls,
I think I no more shall complain.

2 But, alas! what a change do I find, [sight!
When my Shepherd withdraws from my
My fears all return to my mind,
My day is soon chang'd into night:
Then Satan his efforts renews
To vex and ensnare me again;
All my pleasing enjoyments I lose,
And can only lament and complain.
3 By these changes I often pass through,
I am taught my own weakness to know;
I am taught what my Shepherd can do,
And how much to his mercy I owe :
It is he that supports me through all;
When I faint, he revives me again;
He attends to my prayer when I call,
And bids me no longer complain.

4 Wherefore then should I murmur and grieve,

Since my Shepherd is always the same,

And has promis'd he never will leave* The soul that confides in his name? To relieve me from all that I fear, He was buffeted, tempted, and slain; And at length he will surely appear, Though he leaves me a while to complain. 5 While I dwell in an enemy's land, Can I hope to be always in peace! 'Tis enough that my Shepherd's at hand, And that shortly this warfare will cease; For ere long he will bid me removet From this region of sorrow and pain, To abide in his presence above, And then I no more shall complain.

HYMN XXXI.

Return, O Lord, how long!

1 RETURN to bless my waiting eyes,
And cheer my mourning heart, O Lord!
Without thee, all beneath the skies
No real pleasure can afford.

2 When thy lov'd presence meets my sight,
It softens care and sweetens toil;
The sun shines forth with double light,
The whole creation wears a smile.

3 Upon thine arm of love I rest,
Thy gracious voice forbids my fear;
No storms disturb my peaceful breast,
No foes assault when thou art near.
4 But ah! since thou hast been away,
Nothing but trouble have I known;
And Satan marks me for his prey
Because he sees me left alone.

5 My sun is hid, my comforts lost,
My graces droop, my sins revive;
Distress'd, dismayed, and tempest-toss'd,
My soul is only just alive.

6 Lord, hear my cry, and come again!
Put all mine enemies to shaine,
And let them see 'tis not in vain
That I have trusted in thy name.

HYMN XXXII.

Cast down, but not Destroyed.

1 THOUGH Sore beset with guilt and fear,
I cannot, dare not quite despair;
If I must perish, would the Lord
Have taught my heart to love his word?
Would he have given me eyes to see‡
My danger and my remedy,

Reveal'd his name, and bid me pray,
Had he resolv'd to say me nay?

2 No-though cast down, I am not slain;
I fall, but I shall rise again;
The present, Satan, is thy hour,
But Jesus shall control thy power;
His love will plead for my relief,
He hears my groans, he feels my grief;

Nor will he suffer thee to boast A soul that thought his help was lost. 3 'Tis true, I have unfaithful been, And griev'd his Spirit by my sin; Yet still his mercy he 'll reveal, And all my wounds and follies heal: Abounding sin I must confess,* But more abounding is his grace; He once vouchsaf'd for me to bleed, And now he lives my cause to plead. 4 I'll cast myself before his feet, I see him on his mercy-seat, (Tis sprinkled with atoning blood) There sinners find access to God: Ye burden'd souls, approach with me, And make the Saviour's name your plea; Jesus will pardon all who come, And strike your fierce accuser dumb.

HYMN XXXIII.

The Benighted Traveller. 1 FOREST beasts, that live by prey, Seldom show themselves by day; But when day-light is withdrawn,† Then they rove and roar till dawn. 2 Who can tell the trav'ller's fears, When their horrid yells he hears? Terror almost stops his breath, While each step he looks for death. 3 Thus, when Jesus is in view,

Cheerful I my way pursue;
Walking by my Saviour's light,
Nothing can my soul affright.
4 But when he forbears to shine,
Soon the trav'ller's case is mine;
Lost, benighted, struck with dread,
What a painful path I tread !
5 Then my soul with terror hears,
Worse than lions, wolves, or bears,
Roaring loud in ev'ry part,
Through the forest of my heart.
6 Wrath, impatience, envy, pride,
Satan and his host beside,
Press around me to devour;
How can I escape their power?
7 Gracious Lord, afford me light,

Put these beasts of prey to flight;
Let thy power and love be shown;
Save me, for I am thine own.

HYMN XXXIV.

The Prisoner.

1 WHEN the poor pris'ner through a gate Sees others walk at large,

How does he mourn his lonely state,
And long for a discharge!

2 Thus I, confin'd in unbelief,

My loss of freedom mourn,
And spend my hours in fruitless grief,
Until my Lord return.

Rom. v. 20. † Psal. civ. 20. Psal. cxix. 94.

3 The beam of day, which pierces through The gloom in which I dwell, Only discloses to my view

The horrors of my cell.

4 Ah! how my pensive spirit faints, To think of former days!

When I could triumph with the saints, And join their songs of praise! 5 But now my joys are all cut off, In prison I am cast,

And Satan, with a cruel scoff*

Says, "Where's your God at last?” 6 Dear Saviour, for thy mercy's sake, My strong, my only plea, These gates and bars in pieces break,† And set the pris'ner free!

7 Surely my soul shall sing to thee,
For liberty restor❜d;

And all thy saints admire to see
The mercies of the Lord.

HYMN XXXV.

Perplexity relieved.

1 UNCERTAIN how the way to find
Which to salvation led,

I listen'd long, with anxious mind,
To hear what others said.

2 When some of joys and comforts told,
I fear'd that I was wrong;
For I was stupid, dead, and cold,
Had neither joy nor song.

3 The Lord my lab'ring heart reliev'd,
And made my burden light;
Then for a moment I believ'd,
Supposing all was right.

4 Of fierce temptations others talk'd,
Of anguish and dismay,

Through what distress they had walk'd
Before they found the way.

5 Ah! then I thought my hopes were vain, For I had liv'd at ease;

I wish'd for all my fears again
To make me more like these.
6 I had my wish; the Lord disclos'd
The evils of my heart,

And left my naked soul expos'd
To Satan's fiery dart.

7 Alas! "I now must give it up,"

I cried in deep despair:

How could I dream of drawing hope
From what I cannot bear?

8 Again my Saviour brought me aid,
And when he set me free,
"Trust simply on my word," he said,
"And leave the rest to me."

191

HYMN XXXVIII.]

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 answer'd prayer;
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.
3 I hop'd that in some favour'd 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 ev'ry part.

5 Yea more, with his own hand he seem'd

Intent to aggravate my woe;

Cross'd all the fair designs I schem'd, 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 may'st seek thy all in me.'

HYMN XXXVII.

I will Trust, and not be Afraid.

1 BEGONE, unbelief!

My Saviour is near,
And for my relief
Will surely appear:
By prayer let me wrestle,
And he will perform;
With Christ in the vessel,
I smile at the storm.
2 Though dark be my way,
Since he is my guide,
"Tis mine to obey,
"Tis his to provide;
Though cisterns be broken,
And creatures all fail,
The word he has spoken
Shall surely prevail.

3 His love in time past
Forbids me to think
He'll leave me at last
In trouble to sink:
Each sweet Ebenezer
I have in review,
Confirms his good pleasure
To help me quite through.
4 Determin'd to save,

He watch'd o'er my path,
When, Satan's blind slave,
I sported with death;

And can he have taught me
To trust in his name,

And thus far have brought me,
To put me to shame?

5 Why should I complain
Of want or distress,
Temptation or pain?
He told me no less:
The heirs of salvation,
I know from his word,
Through much tribulation
Must follow their Lord.*
6 How bitter that cup,
No heart can conceive,
Which he drank quite up,
That sinners might live!
His way was much rougher
And darker than mine;
Did Jesus thus suffer,
And shall I repine?

7 Since all that I meet
Shall work for my good,
The bitter is sweet,
The med'cine is food;
Though painful at present,
"Twill cease before long,
And then, O how pleasant,
The conqueror's song!†

HYMN XXXVIII.
Questions to Unbelief.

1 Ir to Jesus for relief
My soul has fled by prayer,
Why should I give way to grief,
Or heart-consuming care?
Are not all things in his hands?
Has he not his promise pass'd?
Will he then regardless stand,
And let me sink at last?

2 While I know his providence
Disposes each event,
Shall I judge by feeble sense,
And yield to discontent?
If he worms and sparrows feed,
Clothe the grass in rich array,‡
Can he see a child in need,

And turn his eye away?

3 When his name was quite unknown, And sin my life employed, Then he watch'd me as his

own,

Or I had been destroyed;
Now his mercy-seat I know,
Now by grace am reconcil'd
Would he spare me while a foe,
To leave me when a child?
4 If he all my wants supplied,
When I disdain'd to pray,
Now his Spirit is my guide,

How can he say me nay?
If he would not give me up,
When my soul against him fought,
Will he disappoint the hope
Which he himself has wrought.

5 If he shed his precious blood
To bring me to his fold,
Can I think that meaner good*
He ever will withhold!
Satan, vain is thy device!
Here my hope rests well assur'd,
In that great redemption-price,
I see the whole secur'd.

HYMN XXXIX.
Great Effects by Weak Means.
1 UNBELIEF the soul dismays,
What objections will it raise;
But true faith securely leans
On the promise, in the means.
2 If to faith it once be known,

God has said, "It shall be done,
And in this appointed way;"
Faith has then no more to say.
3 Moses' rod, by faith up-rear'd,t
Through the sea a path prepar'd;
Jericho's devoted wall

At the trumpet's sound must fall. 4 With a pitcher and a lamp,{

Gideon overthrew a camp;
And a stone, well aim'd by faith,||
Prov'd the arm'd Philistine's death.
5 Thus the Lord is pleas'd to try
Those who on his help rely;
By the means he makes it known,
That the power is all his own.

6 Yet the means are not in vain,
If the end we would obtain;
Though the breath of prayer be weak,
None shall find but they who seek.
7 God alone the heart can reach,

Yet the ministers must preach;
"Tis their part the seed to sow,
And 'tis his to make it
grow.

HYMN XL.

Why art thou cast down?

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 Brought safely by his hand thus far,
Why wilt thou now give place to fear?
How canst thou want if he provide,
Or lose thy way with such a guide?
3 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.

4 Did ever trouble yet befall,
And he refuse to hear thy call?
And has he not his promise past,
That thou shalt overcome at last?

[BOOK III.

5 Like David, thou may'st comfort draw, Sav'd from the bear's and lion's paw: Goliah's rage I may defy,

For God, my Saviour, still is nigh. 6 He who has helped me hitherto, Will help me all my journey through, And give me daily cause to raise New Ebenezers to his praise.

7 Though rough and thorny be the road, It leads me home, apace, to God; Then count thy present trials small, For heaven will make amends for all.

HYMN XLI.

The Way of Access.

1 ONE glance of thine, eternal Lord!
Pierces all nature through;

Nor heaven, nor earth, nor hell afford
A shelter from thy view.

2 The mighty whole, each smaller part, At once before thee lies;

And every thought of every heart
Is open to thine eyes.

3 Though greatly from myself conceal'd,
Thou see'st my inward frame;
To thee I always stand reveal'd,
Exactly as I am.

4 Since, therefore, I can hardly bear
What in myself I see;

How vile and black must I appear,
Most holy God, to thee?

5 But since my Saviour stands between,
In garments dyed in blood,
"Tis he, instead of me, is seen,
When I approach to God.

6 Thus, though a sinner, I am safe;
He pleads before the throne,
His life and death in my behalf,
And calls my sins his own.

7 What wondrous love, what mysteries,
In this appointment shine!

1

2

My breaches of the law are his,* And his obedience mine.

3

The promis'd land of peace

Faith keeps in constant view;

How diff'rent from the wilderness We now are passing through.

* 2 Cor. v. 21.

Faith a New and Comprehensive Sense.

1 SIGHT, hearing, feeling, taste, and smell,
Are gifts we highly prize;
But faith does singly each excel,
And all the five comprise.

2 More piercing than the eagle's sight,
It views the world unknown,
Surveys the glorious realms of light,
And Jesus on the throne.

3 It hears the mighty voice of God,

And ponders what he saith;

His word and works, his gifts and rod,
Have each a voice to faith.

4 It feels the touch of heavenly power,*
And from that boundless source,
Derives fresh vigour every hour
To run its daily course.

5 The truth and goodness of the Lord
Are suited to its taste;t

Mean is the worldling's pamper'd board,
To faith's perpetual feast.

6 It smells the dear Redeemer's name
Like ointment poured forth;
Faith only knows, or can proclaim,
Its savour or its worth.

7 Till saving faith possess the mind,
In vain of sense we boast;
We are but senseless, tasteless, blind,
And deaf, and dead, and lost.

2 Through all the storms that veil the skies, And frown on earthly things, The Sun of righteousness he eyes,

With healing on his wings.

3 Struck by that light, the human heart,* A barren soil no more,

Sends the sweet smell of grace abroad,
Where serpents lurk'd before.

4 The soul, a dreary province once
Of Satan's dark domain,

Feels a new empire form'd within,
And owns a heavenly reign.

5 The glorious orb, whose golden beams
The fruitful year control,
Since first, obedient to thy word,
He started from the goal,

6 Has cheer'd the nations with the joys
His orient rays impart;
But, Jesus, 'tis thy light alone
Can shine upon the heart.

HYMN XLV.

Retirement.

1 FAR from the world, O Lord, I flee,
From strife and tumult far;
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,

C.

Oh! with what peace, and joy, and love,
She communes with her God.

4 There, like the nightingale, she pours
Her solitary lays,

Nor asks a witness of her song,

Nor thirsts for human praise.

5 Author and guardian of my life,
Sweet source of light divine,
And (all harmonious names in one)
My Saviour, thou art mine.

6 What thanks I owe thee, and what love, A boundless, endless store,

Shall echo through the realms above,
When time shall be no more.

HYMN XLVI.

Jesus my All.

1 WHY should I fear the darkest hour, Or tremble at the tempter's power? Jesus vouchsafes to be my tower.

C.

2 Though hot the fight, why quit the field? Why must I either flee or yield, Since Jesus is my mighty shield?

3 When creature-comforts fade and die, Worldlings may weep, but why should I? Jesus still lives, and still is nigh.

* Isa. xxxv. 7.