760 L. M. The peace of God. Phil. 4:7.
O peace of God, sweet peace of God! Where broods on earth this gentle dove! Where spread those pure and downy wings To shelter him whom God doth love?
2 Whence comes this blessing of the soul, This silent joy which can not fade? This glory, tranquil, holy, bright, Pervading sorrow’s deepest shade?
3 The peace of God, the peace of God! It shines as clear ’mid cloud and storm As in the calmest summer day, ’Mid chill as in the sunlight warm.
4 O peace of God! earth hath no power To shed thine unction o’er the heart; Its smile can never bring it here— Its frown ne’er bid its light depart.
5 Calm peace of God, in holy trust, In love and faith, thy presence dwells— In patient suffering and toil Where mercy’s gentle tear-drop swells.
6 Sweet peace! O let thy heavenly ray Shed its calm radiance o’er my road; Its kindly light shall cheer me on— Guide to the endless peace of God.
761 L. M. God our Father.
Is there a lone and dreary hour, When worldly pleasures lose their power? My Father! let me turn to thee, And set each thought of darkness free.
2 Is there a time of rushing grief, Which scorns the prospect of relief? My Father! break the cheerless gloom, And bid my heart its calm resume.
3 Is there an hour of peace and joy When hope is all my soul’s employ? My Father! still my hopes will roam, Until they rest with thee, their home.
4 The noontide blaze, the midnight scene, The dawn, or twilight’s sweet serene, The glow of life, the dying hour, Shall own my Father’s grace and power.
762 L. M. D. The secret place of the Most High. Psalm 91:1.
O this is blessing, this is rest! Into thine arms, O Lord! I flee; I hide me in thy faithful breast, And pour out all my soul to thee, Now, hushing every adverse sound, Songs of defense my soul surround, As if all saints encamped about One trusting heart, pursued by doubt.
2 And O, how solemn, yet how sweet, Their one assured, persuasive strain! “The Lord of hosts is thy retreat, Still in his hands thy times remain.” O tender word! O truth divine! Lord, I am altogether thine; I have bowed down, I need not flee; Peace, peace is found in trusting thee.
3 And now I count supremely kind The rule that once I thought severe; And precious, to my altered mind, At length thy kind reproofs appear. I must be taught what I would know, I must be led where I should go: And all the rest ordained for me, Is to be found in trusting thee.
763 L. M. The repose of faith.
O Father! gladly we repose Our souls on thee, who dwellest above, And bless thee for the peace which flows From faith in thine encircling love.
2 Though every earthly trust may break, Infinite might belongs to thee; Though every earthly friend forsake, Unchangeable thou still wilt be.
3 Though griefs may gather darkly round, They can not vail us from thy sight; Though vain all human aid be found, Thou every grief canst turn to light.
4 All things thy wise designs fulfill, In earth beneath, and heaven above, And good breaks out from every ill, Through faith in thine encircling love.
764 L. M. 6 lines. God is my light and my salvation. Psalm 27:1.
Fountain of light, and living breath, Whose mercies never fail nor fade, Fill me with life that hath no death, Fill me with light that hath no shade; Appoint the remnant of my days To see thy power, and sing thy praise.
2 O Lord, our God, before whose throne Stand storms and fire, O what shall we Return to heaven, that is our own, When all the world belongs to thee? We have no offering to impart, But praises, and a broken heart.
3 O thou who sittest in heaven and seest My deeds without, my thoughts within, Be thou my prince, be thou my priest— Command my soul, and cure my sin: How bitter my afflictions be, I care not, so I rise to thee.
4 What I possess, or what I crave, Brings no content, great God, to me, If what I would, or what I have, Be not possessed and blest in thee: What I enjoy, O, make it mine, In making me—that have it—thine.
765 L. M. I delight to do thy will, O my God. Psalm 40:8.
O Lord, thy heavenly grace impart, And fix my frail, inconstant heart; Henceforth my chief delight shall be To dedicate myself to thee, To thee, my God, to thee.
2 Whate’er pursuits my time employ, One thought shall fill my soul with joy; That silent, secret thought shall be, That all my hopes are fixed on thee, On thee, my God, on thee.
3 Thy glorious eye pervadeth space; Thy presence, Lord, fills every place; And, wheresoe’er my lot may be, Still shall my spirit cleave to thee, To thee, my God, to thee.