2 Sun, moon, and stars thy love attest In every golden ray; Love draws the curtains of the night, And love brings back the day.
3 Thy bounty every season crowns With all the bliss it yields, With joyful clusters loads the vines, With strengthening grain the fields.
4 But chiefly thy compassion, Lord, Is in the gospel seen; There, like a sun, thy mercy shines, Without a cloud between.
5 There, pardon, peace, and holy joy, Through Jesus’ name are given; He on the cross was lifted high, That we might reign in heaven.
84 C. M. 6 lines. Seeing him who is invisible.
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 laboring 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 honor of thy name, The wonders of thy ways: But thou art not in tempest flame Nor in the noontide blaze.
4 We hear thy voice when thunders roll Through the wide fields of air; The waves obey thy dread control; But still, thou art not there: Where shall I find him, O my soul! Who yet is everywhere?
5 O! not in circling depth or hight, But in the conscious breast, Present to faith, though vailed from sight; There doth his Spirit rest: O, come, thou Presence infinite! And make thy creature blest.
85 C. M. Just and true are thy ways. Rev. 15:3.
Since all the varying scenes of time God’s watchful eye surveys, O, who so wise to choose our lot, Or to appoint our ways!
2 Good when he gives—supremely good— Nor less when he denies; E’en crosses, from his sovereign hand, Are blessings in disguise.
3 Why should we doubt a Father’s love So constant and so kind? To his unerring, gracious will Be every wish resigned.
86 C. M. God is love. 1 John 4:8.
I can not always trace the way Where thou, almighty One, dost move; But I can always, always say, That God is love.
2 When fear her chilling mantle flings O’er earth, my soul to heaven above, As to her native home, upsprings; For God is love.
3 When mystery clouds my darkened path, I’ll check my dread, my doubts reprove; In this my soul sweet comfort hath, That God is love.
4 O may this truth my heart employ, And every gloomy thought remove; It fills my soul with boundless joy, That God is love!
87 C. M. Thou hast taught me from my youth. Psalm 71.
Almighty Father of mankind! On thee my hopes remain; And when the day of trouble comes, I shall not trust in vain.
2 In early years, thou wast my guide, And of my youth the friend; And, as my days began with thee, With thee my days shall end.
3 I know the Power in whom I trust, The arm on which I lean; He will my Saviour ever be, Who has my Saviour been.
4 Thou wilt not cast me off, when age And evil days descend; Thou wilt not leave me in despair, To mourn my latter end.
5 Therefore, in life I’ll trust in thee; In death I will adore; And after death will sing thy praise, When time shall be no more.
88 C. M. All things are yours. 1 Cor. 3:21.
Since God is mine, then present things And things to come are mine; Yea, Christ, his word, and Spirit, too, And glory all divine.
2 Since he is mine, then from his love He every trouble sends; All things are working for my good, And bliss his rod attends.
3 Since he is mine, I need not fear The rage of earth and hell; He will support my feeble power, Their utmost force repel.
4 Since he is mine, let friends forsake, Let wealth and honors flee: Sure, he who giveth me himself, Is more than these to me.
5 Since he is mine, I’ll boldly pass Through death’s dark, lonely vale: He is my comfort and my stay, When heart and flesh shall fail.
6 And now, O Lord, since thou art mine, What can I wish beside? My soul shall at the fountain live, When all the streams are dried.
89 C. M. Providence.
Let the whole race of creatures lie In dust before the Lord! Whate’er his powerful hand has formed, He governs with a word.
2 Ten thousand ages ere the skies Were into motion brought, All the long years and worlds to come Stood present to his thought.
3 There’s not a sparrow, or a worm, O’erlooked in his decrees: He raises monarchs to a throne, Or sinks with equal ease.
4 If light attend the course I go, ’Tis he provides the rays; And ’tis his hand that hides the sun, If darkness cloud my days.
5 Trusting his wisdom and his love, I would not wish to know What, in the book of his decrees, Awaits me here below.