3 With longing eyes thy creatures wait On thee for daily food, Thy liberal hand provides their meat, And fills their mouths with good.
4 How kind are thy compassions, Lord! How slow thine anger moves! But soon he sends his pardoning word To cheer the souls he loves.
5 Creatures, with all their endless race, Thy power and praise proclaim: But saints that taste thy richer grace, Delight to bless thy name.
77 C. M. Your heavenly Father feedeth them. Matt. 6:25-34.
O why despond in life’s dark vale? Why sink to fears a prey? Th’ almighty power can never fail, His love can ne’er decay.
2 Behold the birds that wing the air, Nor sow nor reap the grain; Yet God, with all a father’s care, Relieves when they complain.
3 Behold the lilies of the field: They toil nor labor know; Yet royal robes to theirs must yield, In beauty’s richest glow.
4 That God who hears the raven’s cry, Who decks the lily’s form, Will surely all your wants supply, And shield you in the storm.
5 Seek first his kingdom’s grace to share: Its righteousness pursue: And all that needs your earthly care He will bestow on you.
78 C. M. Gratitude.
When all thy mercies, O my God, My rising soul surveys, Transported with the view I’m lost In wonder, love, and praise.
2 Unnumbered comforts on my soul Thy tender care bestowed, Before my infant heart conceived From whom those comforts flowed.
3 When in the slippery paths of youth With heedless steps I ran, Thine arm, unseen, conveyed me safe, And led me up to man.
4 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts My daily thanks employ, Nor is the least a cheerful heart, That tastes those gifts with joy.
5 Through every period of my life Thy goodness I’ll pursue; And after death, in distant worlds, The glorious theme renew.
6 Through all eternity, to thee A joyful song I’ll raise; But O! eternity’s too short To utter all thy praise!
79 C. M. Thy judgments are a great deep. Psalm 36:6.
God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps on the sea, And rides upon the storm.
2 Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill, He treasures up his bright designs, And works his gracious will.
3 You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head.
4 Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
5 His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.
6 Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan his work in vain: God is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain.
80 C. M. My God, how wonderful thou art.
My God, how wonderful thou art, Thy majesty how bright! How glorious is thy mercy-seat, In depths of burning light!
2 Yet I may love thee too, O Lord, Almighty as thou art; For thou hast stooped to ask of me The love of my poor heart.
3 No earthly father loves like thee, No mother half so mild Bears and forbears, as thou hast done With me, thy sinful child.
4 My God, how wonderful thou art, Thou everlasting Friend! On thee I stay my trusting heart, Till faith in vision end.
81 C. M. The God of my life.
Father of mercies! God of love! My Father and my God! I’ll sing the honors of thy name, And spread thy praise abroad.
2 In every period of my life Thy thoughts of love appear; Thy mercies gild each transient scene, And crown each passing year.
3 In all thy mercies, may my soul A Father’s bounty see; Nor let the gifts thy grace bestows Estrange my heart from thee.
4 Teach me, in times of deep distress, To own thy hand, O God! And in submissive silence learn The lessons of thy rod.
5 Then may I close my eyes in death, Redeemed from anxious fear: For death itself, my God, is life, If thou be with me there.
82 C. M. In the winds. Isaiah 27:8.
Great Ruler of all nature’s frame, We own thy power divine; We hear thy breath in every storm For all the winds are thine.
2 Wide as they sweep their sounding way, They work thy sovereign will; And, awed by the majestic voice, Confusion shall be still.
3 Thy mercy tempers every blast To them that seek thy face, And mingles with the tempest’s roar, The whispers of thy grace.
4 Those gentle whispers let me hear, Till all the tumult cease; And gales of paradise shall lull My weary soul to peace.
83 C. M. His tender mercies are over all his works. Psalm 145:9.
Thy goodness, Lord, our souls confess; Thy goodness we adore: A spring whose blessings never fail; A sea without a shore.