Confirm the tidings as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole. What though, in solemn silence, all Addison. HYMN ON PROVIDENCE. WHEN all thy mercies, O my God! Transported with the view, I'm lost O how shall words with equal warmth That glows within my ravish'd heart!~ Thy Providence my life sustain'd, To all my weak complaints and cries Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learn'd Unnumber'd comforts to my soul Before my infant heart conceiv'd From whence those comforts flow'd. When in the slippery paths of youth Through hidden dangers, toils, and death, When worn with sickness, oft hast thou Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss Ten thousand thousand precious gifts Through every period of my life When nature fails, and day and night My ever-grateful heart, O Lord! Through all eternity to Thee A joyful song I'll raise; For oh! eternity's too short To utter all thy praise. Addison. ANOTHER HYMN ON THE SAME SUBJECT. How are thy servants bless'd, O Lord! How sure is their defence! Eternal wisdom is their guide, Their help Omnipotence. In foreign realms, and lands remote, Through burning climes I pass'd unhurt, Thy mercy sweeten'd every soil, Think, O my soul! devoutly think Thou saw'st the wide-extended deep Confusion dwelt on every face, And fear in every heart; When waves on waves, and gulfs on gulfs, O'ercame the pilot's art. Yet then from all my griefs, O Lord! For though in dreadful whirls we hung I knew thou wert not slow to hear, The storm was laid, the winds retir'd, The sea, that roar'd at thy command, In midst of dangers, fears, and death, And praise thee for thy mercies past, My life, if thou preserv'st my life, And death, if death must be my doom, Shall join my soul to thee. Addison. HYMN FOR PARDON. WHEN rising from the bed of death, If yet, while pardon may be found, My heart with inward horror shrinks, When thou, O Lord! shalt stand disclos'd In majesty severe, And sit in judgment on my soul, O how shall I appear? But thou hast told the troubled soul, Who does her sins lament, The timely tribute of her tears Shall endless wo prevent. Then see the sorrows of my heart, And add my Saviour's dying groans, For never shall my soul despair Who knows thy only Son has died Addison. |