4 Not so the impious and unjust: What vain designs they form! Their hopes are blown away like dust, Or chaff before the storm.
5 Sinners in judgment shall not stand Among the sons of grace, When Christ the judge at his right hand Appoints his saints a place.
6 His eyes behold the path they tread, His heart approves it well; But crooked ways of sinners lead Down to the gates of hell.
773 C. M. D. O lead us gently on.
Father of love, our Guide and Friend, O, lead us gently on, Until life’s trial-time shall end, And heavenly peace be won! We know not what the path may be As yet by us untrod; But we can trust our all to thee, Our Father and our God.
2 If called, like Abraham’s child, to climb The hill of sacrifice, Some angel may be there in time; Deliverance shall arise: Or, if some darker lot be good, O, teach us to endure The sorrow, pain, or solitude, That make the spirit pure!
774 C. M. Thou art my portion, O Lord. Psalm 119:57.
Thou art my portion, O my God; Soon as I know thy way, My heart makes haste t’ obey thy word, And suffers no delay.
2 I choose the path of heavenly truth, And glory in my choice; Not all the riches of the earth Could make me so rejoice.
3 The testimonies of thy grace I set before mine eyes; Thence I derive my daily strength, And there my comfort lies.
4 If once I wander from thy path, I think upon my ways; Then turn my feet to thy commands, And trust thy pardoning grace.
5 Now I am thine, for ever thine; O, save thy servant, Lord: Thou art my shield, my hiding-place, My hope is in thy word.
775 C. M. 6 lines. The spirit of a little child.
Father, I know that all my life Is portioned out for me; The changes that will surely come, I do not fear to see: I ask thee for a present mind, Intent on pleasing thee.
2 I ask thee for a thoughtful love, Through constant watching wise, To meet the glad with joyful smiles, And wipe the weeping eyes; A heart at leisure from itself, To soothe and sympathize.
3 I would not have the restless will That hurries to and fro, That seeks for some great thing to do, Or secret thing to know: I would be treated as a child, And guided where I go.
4 Wherever in the world I am, In whatsoe’er estate, I have a fellowship with hearts, To keep and cultivate; A work of lowly love to do For him on whom I wait.
776 C. M. Christ loved unseen. 1 Peter 1:8.
Jesus, these eyes have never seen That radiant form of thine! The vail of sense hangs dark between Thy blesséd face and mine!
2 I see thee not, I hear thee not, Yet art thou oft with me; And earth hath ne’er so dear a spot, As where I meet with thee.
3 Like some bright dream that comes unsought, When slumbers o’er me roll, Thine image ever fills my thought, And charms my ravished soul.
4 Yet though I have not seen, and still Must rest in faith alone; I love thee, dearest Lord! and will, Unseen, but not unknown.
5 When death these mortal eyes shall seal, And still this throbbing heart, The rending vail shall thee reveal, All glorious as thou art!
777 C. L. M. Job. 1:21.
When I can trust my all with God, In trial’s fearful hour— Bow all resigned beneath his rod, And bless his sparing power; A joy springs up amid distress, A fountain in the wilderness.
2 O! to be brought to Jesus’ feet, Though trials fix me there, Is still a privilege most sweet; For he will hear my prayer; Though sighs and tears its language be, The Lord is nigh to answer me.
3 Then, blesséd be the hand that gave, Still blesséd when it takes; Blesséd be he who smites to save, Who heals the heart he breaks; Perfect and true are all his ways, Whom heaven adores and death obeys.
778 S. M. That Rock was Christ. 1 Cor. 10:4.
Israel the desert trod, Sustained by power divine, While wondrous mercy marked the road With many a mystic sign.
2 When Moses gave the stroke, From Horeb’s flinty side Issued a river, and the rock The Hebrew’s thirst supplied.
3 But O! what nobler themes Does gospel grace afford! From Calvary spring superior streams— There hung the smitten Lord!
4 Of every hope bereft, Sinners to Jesus go; Behold the Rock of Ages cleft, And living currents flow.
5 Here may our spirits bathe, Here may our joys abound! Till (passed the wilderness and death) We tread celestial ground.
779 S. M. Having all in Christ.
My spirit on thy care, Blest Saviour, I recline; Thou wilt not leave me to despair, For thou art love divine.
2 In thee I place my trust; On thee I calmly rest: I know thee good, I know thee just, And count thy choice the best.