4 Thee, in the watches of the night,
When I remember on my bed,
Thy presence makes the darkness light,
Thy guardian wings are round my head.
5 Better than life itself thy love,
Dearer than all beside to me;
For whom have I in heaven above,
Or what on earth, compared with thee?
6 Praise with my heart, my mind, my voice, For all thy mercy I will give; My soul shall still in God rejoice,
My tongue shall bless thee while I live.
356. С. М. MISS H. M. WILLIAMS.
Seeking God in habitual Devotion.
1 WHILST thee I seek, protecting Power,
Be my vain wishes stilled;
And may this consecrated hour
With better hopes be filled.
2 Thy love the power of thought bestowed,
To thee my thoughts would soar;
Thy mercy o'er my life has flowed ;-
That mercy I adore.
3 In each event of life, how clear
Thy ruling hand I see!
Each blessing to my soul more dear,
Because conferred by thee.
4 In every joy that crowns my days,
In every pain I bear,
My heart shall find delight in praise,
Or seek relief in prayer.
5 When gladness wings my favored hour, Thy love my thoughts shall fill ; Resigned when storms of sorrow lower, My soul shall meet thy will.
6 My lifted eye without a tear
The gathering storm shall see; My steadfast heart shall know no fear ;That heart shall rest on thee.
Seeking the Light of God's Presence.
10 THAT my heart was right with thee,
And loved thee with a perfect love!
O that my Lord would dwell in me,
And never from his seat remove!
2 Father, I dwell in mournful night
Till thou dost in my heart appear;
Arise, propitious sun! and light
An everlasting morning there.
3 0, let my prayer acceptance find,
And bring the heavenly blessing down;
Eye-sight impart, for I am blind,-
And seal me thine adopted son.
1 My God, permit my tongue
This joy, to call thee mine;
And let my early cries prevail
To taste thy love divine.
2 My thirsty, fainting soul
Thy mercy does implore :
Not travellers in desert lands
Can pant for water more.
3 Within thy churches, Lord,
I long to find my place;
Thy power and glory to behold,
And feel thy quickening grace
4 For life without thy love
No relish can afford;
No joy can be compared with this,
To serve and please the Lord.
5 Since thou hast been my help,
To thee my spirit flies,
And on thy watchful providence
My cheerful hope relies.
6 The shadow of thy wings
My soul in safety keeps;
I follow where my Father leads,
And he supports my steps.
Seeking God, the Fountain of living Waters.
1 BLEST Spirit! source of grace divine!
What soul-refreshing streams are thine !
O bring these healing waters nigh,
Or we must droop, and fall, and die.
2 No traveller through desert lands,
'Midst scorching suns and burning sands,
More eager longs for cooling rain,
Or pants the current to obtain.
3 Our longing souls aloud would sing,
'Spring forth, celestial fountain, spring;
To a redundant river flow,
And cheer this thirsty land below.'
4 May this blest torrent near my side
Through all the desert gently glide;
Then, in Emmanuel's land above,
Spread to a sea of joy and love.
Seeking God's Blessing.
1 Our Father, throned above the sky!
To thee our empty hands we spread;
Thy children at thy footstool lie,
And ask thy blessings on their head.
2 With cheerful hope and filial fear,
In that august and precious name
By thee ordained, we now draw near,
And would the promised blessing claim.
3 Does not an earthly parent hear
The cravings of his famished son?
Will he reject the filial prayer,
Or mock him with a cake of stone ?
4 Our heavenly Father! how much more
Will thy divine compassion rise,
And open thine unbounded store
To satisfy thy children's cries!
5 Yes, we will ask, and seek, and press
For gracious audience, to thy seat;
Still hoping, waiting for success,
If persevering to entreat.
6 For Jesus in his faithful word
The patient supplicant has blessed;
And all thy saints, with one accord,
The prevalence of prayer attest.
1 My God, my Father! may I dare,-
I, all debased, with sin defiled,-
These awful, soothing names to join !
Am I thy creature, and thy child !
2 Art thou my Father! - then no more
My sins shall tempt me to despair;
My Father pities and forgives,
And hears a child's repentant prayer.
3 Art thou my Father! -let me strive
With all my powers to do thy will,
To make thy service all my care,
And all thy kind commands fulfil.
4 Art thou my Father! - then I know,
When pain, or wants, or griefs oppress,
They come but from a Father's hand,
That wounds to heal, afflicts to bless.
5 Art thou my Father! then, in doubt
And darkness when I grope my way,
Thy light shall shine upon my path,
And make my darkness like thy day.
6 My God, my Father! I am vile,
Prone to forget thee, weak and blind;
Be thou my hope, my strength, my trust
Hope of my heart, light of my mind.
|
