3 Let me not murmur nor complain
At what Thy wisdom shall ordain.
Sickness or health may blessings prove.
As ordered by Thy sovereign love.
4 My moments move with winged haste,
Nor know I which shall be the last:
Danger and death are ever nigh,
And I this year, perhaps, may die.
5 Prepare me for the trying day:
Then call my willing soul away.
I'll quit the world at Thy command,
And trust my spirit to Thy hand.
524. “My times are in thy hand." Psalm xxxi. 15. 7's.
1 SOVEREIGN Ruler of the skies!
Ever gracious, ever wise!
All my times are in Thy hand,-
All events at Thy command.
2 His decree, who formed the earth,
Fixed my first and second birth:
All my times shall ever be
Ordered by His wise decree.
3 Times of sickness, times of health;
Times of penury and wealth;
Times of trial and of grief;
Times of triumph and relief.
4 O Thou Gracious, Wise, and Just!
In Thy hands my life I trust.
Have I somewhat dearer still?-
I resign it to Thy will.
5 May I always own Thy hand;
Still to the surrender stand.
Thee, at all times, will I bless;
Thee, in whom I all possess.
525. "From everlasting to everlasting thou art God." Psalm xc. 2. C. M. double.
1 THOU wast, O God! and Thou wast blest,
Before the world begun ;
Of Thine eternity possessed
Before time's glass did run.
Thou needest none Thy praise to sing,
As if Thy joy could fade:
Couldst Thou have needed any thing,
Thou couldst have nothing made.
2 Great and good God! it pleased Thee
Thy Godhead to declare;
And what Thy goodness did decree,
Thy greatness did prepare.
Thou spak'st, and heaven and earth
And answered to Thy call; [appeared,
As if their Maker's voice they heard,
Which is the creature's all.
3 To whom, Lord! should I sing, but Thee, The Maker of my tongue?
Lo! other lords would seize on me,
But I to Thee belong.
As waters haste unto their sea,
And earth unto its earth,
So let my soul return to Thee,
From whom it had its birth.
4 But ah! I'm fallen on the night,
And cannot come to Thee.
Yet speak the word, Let there be light:
It shall enlighten me.
And let Thy word, most mighty Lord!
Thy fallen creature raise.
Oh, make me o'er again, and I
Shall sing my Maker's praise.
"Whither shall I go from thy Spirit ?” `
Psa.cxxxix. 7. 8's & 6's.
1 BEYOND, beyond that boundless sea, Above that dome of sky,
Further than thought itself can flee,
Thy dwelling is on high:
Yet dear the awful thought to me,
That Thou, my God, art nigh:-
2 Art nigh, and yet my labouring mind
Feels after Thee in vain,
Thee in these works of power to find,
Or to Thy seat attain.
Thy messenger, the stormy wind;
Thy path, the trackless main :-
3 These speak of Thee with loud acclaim;
They thunder forth Thy praise,-
The glorious honour of Thy name,
The wonders of Thy ways:
But Thou art not in tempest-flame,
Nor in day's glorious blaze.
4 We hear Thy voice, when thunders roll
Through the wide fields of air:
The waves obey Thy dread control;
Yet still Thou art not there.
Where shall I find Him, O my soul,
Who yet is every where?
5 Oh, not in circling depth or height,
But in the conscious breast,
Present to faith, though veiled from sight,
There does His Spirit rest.
Oh come, Thou Presence Infinite!
And make Thy creature blest.
527. “Thy hands have made me and fashioned me.”
1 THY hands have made and fashioned me:
I hold my being, Lord! from Thee.
Oh, teach Thy creature to fulfil
The law and purpose of Thy will.
2 Thy goodness clothes and fills the earth:
Each moment gives new mercies birth.
Thy richest gift, Thy grace, bestow,
And let my soul Thy mercy know.
3 Lord! Thou art good, and doest good;
Giver of life, and health, and food.
Teach me Thy statutes, and impart
A wise and understanding heart.
4 In mercy with Thy servant deal :
Thy statutes and Thy grace reveal.
I am Thy servant: by that name,
To know Thy blessed will I claim.
5 So shall my lips shew forth Thy praise,
When Thou hast taught me all Thy ways.
Others shall learn Thy name to bless,
For Thy commands are righteousness.
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