1014 C. M. Thou hast loosed my bonds. Psalm 116:16.
Now to thy heavenly Father’s praise, My heart, thy tribute bring; That goodness which prolongs my days, With grateful pleasure sing.
2 Whene’er he sends afflicting pains, His mercy holds the rod; His powerful word the heart sustains, And speaks a faithful God.
3 A faithful God is ever nigh When humble grief implores; His ear attends each plaintive sigh, He pities and restores.
4 Lord, I am thine, for ever thine, Nor shall my purpose move; Thy hand, that loosed my bonds of pain, Has bound me with thy love.
1015 S. M. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. Heb. 12:6.
How tender is thy hand, O thou most gracious Lord! Afflictions come at thy command, And leave us at thy word.
2 How gentle was the rod That chastened us for sin! How soon we found a smiling God, Where deep distress had been!
3 A Father’s hand we felt, A Father’s heart we knew; ’Mid tears of penitence we knelt, And found his word was true.
4 Now we will bless the Lord, And in his strength confide; For ever be his name adored, For there is none beside.
1016 S. M. Lead me to the Rock, etc. Psalm 61:2.
When overwhelmed with grief, My heart within me dies, Helpless, and far from all relief, To heaven I lift mine eyes.
2 O lead me to the Rock That’s high above my head, And make the covert of thy wings My shelter and my shade.
3 Within thy presence, Lord, For ever I’ll abide; Thou art the tower of my defense, The refuge where I hide.
1017 S. M. The bow in the cloud.
Out of the depths of woe, To thee, O Lord! I cry; Darkness surrounds thee, but I know That thou art ever nigh.
2 Like them I watch and pray, Who for the morning long; Catch the first gleam of welcome day, Then burst into a song.
3 Glory to God above! The waters soon will cease; For, lo! the swift returning dove Brings home the sign of peace!
4 Though storms thy face obscure, And dangers threaten loud, Thy holy covenant is sure; Thy bow is in the cloud!
1018 S. M. God dealeth with you as with sons. Heb. 12:7.
How gracious and how wise Is our chastising God; And, O! how rich the blessings are Which blossom from his rod!
2 He lifts it up on high With pity in his heart, That every stroke his children feel, May grace and peace impart.
3 Instructed thus, they bow And own his sovereign sway; They turn their erring footsteps back To his forsaken way.
4 His covenant love they seek, And seek the happy bands That closer still engage their hearts To honor his commands.
5 Our Father, we consent To discipline divine; And bless the pain that makes our souls Still more completely thine.
6 Supported by thy love, We tend to realms of peace, Where every pain shall far remove, And every frailty cease.
1019 S. M. The inward man is renewed, etc. 2 Cor. 4:16.
We love this outward world, Its fair sky overhead, Its morning’s soft, gray mist unfurled, Its sunsets rich and red.
2 But there’s a world within, That higher glory hath; A life the struggling soul must win— The life of joy and faith.
3 For this the Father’s love Doth shade the world of sense, The bounding play of health remove, And dim the sparkling glance;
4 That, though the earth grows dull, And earthly pleasures few, The spirit gain its wisdom full To suffer and to do.
5 Holy this world within, Unknown to sound or sight— The world of victory over sin, Of faith, and love, and light.
1020 S. M. Perfect peace in Christ. Isaiah 26:3.
Thou very present aid In suffering and distress, The soul which still on thee is stayed, Is kept in perfect peace.
2 The soul, by faith reclined On the Redeemer’s breast, ’Mid raging storms exults to find An everlasting rest.
3 Sorrow and fear are gone Whene’er thy face appears: It stills the sighing orphan’s moan, And dries the widow’s tears:
4 It hallows every cross; It sweetly comforts me; Makes me forget my every loss, And find my all in thee.
5 Jesus, to whom I fly, Doth all my wishes fill: What though created streams are dry, I have the fountain still.
6 Stripped of my earthly friends, I find them all in One; And peace and joy that never ends, And heaven in Christ begun.
1021 7s. One for evermore with thee.
Prince of Peace! control my will; Bid this struggling heart be still; Bid my fears and doubtings cease— Hush my spirit into peace.
2 Thou hast bought me with thy blood, Opened wide the gate to God; Peace I ask—but peace must be, Lord, in being one with thee.