Chapter 78
1 When human hopes and joys depart, I give thee, Lord, a contrite heart; And on my weary spirit steal The thoughts that pa.s.s all earthly weal.
2 I cast above my tearful eyes, And muse upon the starry skies; And think that He who governs there Still keeps me in his guardian care.
3 I gaze upon the opening flower, Just moistened with the evening shower; And bless the love which made it bloom, To chase away my transient gloom.
4 I think, whene'er this mortal frame Returns again to whence it came, My soul shall wing its happy flight To regions of eternal light.
472. C. M. Wesleyan.
For Purity of Heart.
1 O, for a heart to praise my G.o.d, A heart from sin set free; A heart that always feels how good, Thou, Lord, hast been to me.
2 O for a humble, contrite heart, Believing, true, and clean, Which neither life nor death can part From him who dwells within;--
3 A heart in every thought renewed, And full of love divine, Perfect, and right, and pure and good, Conformed, O Lord, to thine.
4 Thy temper, gracious Lord, impart; Come quickly from above; O, write thy name upon my heart, Thy name, O G.o.d, is Love.
473. L. M. Bowring.
G.o.d's sustaining Presence.
1 Father and friend, thy light, thy love Beaming through all thy works we see; Thy glory gilds the heavens above, And all the earth is full of thee.
2 Thy voice we hear, thy presence feel, Whilst thou, too pure
3 We know not in what hallowed part Of the wide heavens thy throne may be; But this we know,--that where thou art, Strength, wisdom, goodness, dwell with thee.
4 Thy children shall not faint nor fear, Sustained by this delightful thought,-- Since thou, their G.o.d, art everywhere, They cannot be where thou art not.
474. S. M. Episcopal Coll.
Ark of Safety.
1 O, cease, my wandering soul, On restless wing to roam; All this wide world, to either pole, Has not for thee a home.
2 Behold the ark of G.o.d; Behold the open door; O, haste to gain that dear abode, And rove, my soul, no more.
3 There, safe thou shalt abide, There, sweet shall be thy rest, And every longing satisfied, With full salvation blest.
475. C. M. Watts.
"O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes."
1 O that the Lord would guide my ways To keep his statutes still!
O that my G.o.d would grant me grace To know and do his will!
2 O send thy Spirit down to write Thy law upon my heart!
Nor let my tongue indulge deceit, Nor act the liar's part.
3 Order my footsteps by thy word, And make my heart sincere; Let sin have no dominion, Lord, But keep my conscience clear.
4 Make me to walk in thy commands,-- 'Tis a delightful road; Nor let my head, or heart, or hands, Offend against my G.o.d.
476. C. M. T. Humphries.
"Lord, remember me."
1 O thou, from whom all goodness flows, I lift my soul to thee; In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes, Good Lord, remember me.
2 When on my aching, burdened heart My sins lie heavily, Thy pardon grant, new peace impart: Good Lord, remember me.
3 When trials sore obstruct my way, And ills I cannot flee, O let my strength be as my day: Good Lord, remember me.
4 And when before thy throne I stand, And lift my soul to thee, Then, with the saints at thy right hand, Good Lord, remember me!
477. L. M. Merrick.
Prayer for Divine Guidance.
1 Teach me, O teach me, Lord! thy way; So, to my life's remotest day, By thy unerring precepts led, My willing feet its paths shall tread.
2 Informed by thee, with sacred awe, My heart shall meditate thy law; And with celestial wisdom filled, To thee its full obedience yield.