2 The wondrous methods of thy grace Evade the human eye;

The nearer we attempt t' approach
The farther off they fly.

3 But in the world of bliss above,
Where thou dost ever reign,

These myst'ries shall be all unveiled,
And not a doubt remain.

4 The Sun of righteousness shall there His brightest beams display,

And not a hovering cloud obscure
That never-ending day.

130.

C. M.

COWPER.

The Same.

1 GOD moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in 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 sovereign will.

3 Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take :
The clouds ye 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.

131.

L. M.

ANONYMOUS.

Providence Kind and Sure.

1 THROUGH all the various passing scene
Of life's mistaken ill or good,

Thy hand, O God! conducts unseen
The beautiful vicissitude.

2 Thou givest, with paternal care,
Howe'er unjustly we complain,
To each their necessary share

Of joy and sorrow, health and pain.

3 When lowest sunk with grief and shame, Filled with affliction's bitter cup,

Lost to relations, friends, and fame,
Thy powerful hand can raise us up.

4 Thy powerful consolations cheer,
Thy smiles suppress the deep-fetched sigh,
Thy hand can dry the trickling tear
That silent dims the widow's eye.

5 All things on earth, and all in heaven,
On thy eternal will depend ;

And all for greater good were given,
And all shall in thy glory end.

6 This be my care-to all beside
Indifferent let my wishes be,-

'Passion be calm, and dumb be pride,
And fixed, O God, my soul on thee.'

132.

C. M.

FAWCETT.

Providence Unsearchable.

1 THY way, O God! is in the sea;
Thy paths I cannot trace,
Nor comprehend the mystery
Of thy unbounded grace.

2 Here the dark vails of flesh and sense
My captive soul surround;
Mysterious deeps of providence
My wandering thoughts confound.

3 When I behold thy awful hand
My earthly hopes destroy,
In deep astonishment I stand,
And ask the reason why.

4 As through a glass, I dimly see
The wonders of thy love:
How little do I know of thee,
Or of the joys above!

5 'Tis but in part I know thy will:
I bless thee for the sight.
When will thy love the rest reveal
In glory's clearer light?

6 With rapture shall I then survey
Thy providence and grace,
And spend an everlasting day
In wonder, love, and praise

Providence and Grace Unsearchable.

1 ALMIGHTY God, thy wondrous works
Of providence and grace,
An angel's perfect mind exceed,
And all our pride abase.

2 Stupendous heights! amazing depths!
Creatures in vain explore;

Or if a transient glimpse we gain,
'Tis faint, and quickly o'er.

3 Though all the mysteries lie concealed Beyond what we can see,

Grant us the knowledge of ourselves,
The knowledge, Lord, of thee.

134.

L. M.

*BEDDOME.

Providence Unsearchable.

1 Wait, O my soul, thy Maker's will;
Tumultuous passions, all be still;
Nor let a murmuring thought arise ;-
His ways are just-his counsels wise.

2 Thick darkness round his throne he draws;
His work performs-conceals the cause;
But though his methods are unknown,
Judgment and truth support his throne.

3 In heaven, and earth, and air, and seas,
He executes his firm decrees;

And age to age has still confessed
That what he does is ever best.

4 Wait, then, my soul, submissive wait,
Prostrate before his awful seat;
And, mid the terrors of his rod,
Trust in a wise and gracious God.

135.

S. M.

*JERVIS.

God's Providence in National Overturns.

1 God, to correct the world,

In wrath is slow to rise,

But comes at length in thunder clothed,

And darkness veils the skies.

2 His banners, lifted high,

The nations' God declare,

And, stained with blood, with terrors marked,
Spread wonder and despair.

3 All earthly pomp and pride
Are in his presence lost-

Empires o'erturned-thrones, sceptres, crowns
In wild confusion tost.

4 While war and wo prevail,
And desolation wide,

In God, the sovereign Lord of all,
The righteous still confide.

5 Mysterious is the course

Of his tremendous way;
His path is in the trackless winds,
And in the foaming sea.

6 He'll curb the lawless power,
The deadly wrath, of man,
And all the windings will unfold
Of his own gracious plan.