Confidence in God's Care and Guidance.
THE LORD my pasture shall prepare,
And feed me with a shepherd's care:
His presence shall my wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful eye:
My noon-day walks he shall attend,
And all my midnight hours defend.
When in the sultry glebe I faint,
Or o'er the thirsty mountains pant,
To fertile vales and dewy meads,
My weary wandering steps he leads,
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the verdant landscape flow.
Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious lonely wilds I stray,
Thy presence shall my pains beguile;
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden greens and herbage crown'd;
And streams shall murmur all around.
Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill,
For thou, O LORD! art with me still:
Thy friendly hand shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.
Faith and Hope in the Divine Goodness.
LORD! while my thoughts with wonder trace
Thy favours past through all my days,
My thankful heart adores thy grace;
I trust that goodness which I praise.
Still, from the same eternal spring,
Thy various, constant bounties flow;
Beneath the shelter of thy wing,
I view serene the shades of woe..
E'en death's tremendous vale appears
No more in gloomy terrors drest:
Thy smile, my GOD! forbids my fears,
While on thy gracious hand I rest.
Through the dark scenes of mortal care,.
To humble faith's enraptur'd eye,.
The distant prospect opens fair.
Of blissful immortality..
On Recovery from a Dangerous Illness.
MY GOD! thy service well demands
The remnant of my days;
Why was this fleeting breath renew'd,
But to renew thy praise?
Thy tender mercy, O my God!
Did this weak frame sustain,
When life was hovering o'er the grave,
And nature sunk with pain.
Thou, when the pains of death were felt, Didst chase all slavish fear;
And well my soul could bear those pains, When thou, my help, wast near.
Calmly I watch'd my ebbing life;
I knew thy time was best;
Nor fear'd to obey my Father's call
To his eternal rest.
Into thy hands, my gracious GOD!
Did I myself resign;
And humbly trusted in thy grace,
For pardoning love is thine.
Back from the borders of the grave,
At thy command I come;
Nor would I wish a speedier flight
To my celestial home.
Where thou appointest my abode,
There would I choose to be;
For in thy presence death is life,
And earth is heaven with thee.
All is well under the Direction of God. (2 Kings, iv. 26.)
'ALL yet is well,' the mother said,
Who left her only offspring dead,
While she the holy Prophet sought,
And deeply felt the news she brought.
Faith in the Prophet's GoD most high,
Upheld her hope, reliev'd her sigh;
And while the tear maternal fell,
She calmly answered, Yes 'tis well.'
Thus faith in GOD could soften grief,
And bring the afflicted mind relief,
Ere yet eternal life reveal'd,
Was by our rising Saviour seal'd.
Then let his word support the soul,
And every pain and grief control;
And faith each rising passion tell,
That GOD, our GOD, doth all things well.
Consolations of Religion in Affliction.
WHEN Sorrow sinks my spirits down,
And grief o'erwhelms my troubled mind,
Faith cries, look up to God alone,
'A refuge thou in him shalt find:' My soul obeys the sacred word,
And casts her care upon the LORD.
What though affliction's shades surround
My path, yet God is wise and just;
And oft my fainting soul has found
The promise true, in which I trust;
Shall I then doubt his sacred word?
No-let me humbly trust the LORD.
'Tis in the hour of deep distress,
That we religion's comfort prove;
The chastening hand we feel and bless
Of God, that scourges us in love:
Though nature sinks beneath the rod,
Yet faith reposes still in GOD.
It is the LORD that strikes the blow;
Let every murmuring thought be still:
Oft has he made my cup o'erflow,
And shall I dare dispute his will?
For ever be the thought abhorr'd:
My soul, still wait thou on the LORD.
Wait, till he bid thy sorrows cease,
Till he thy every care remove;
And though thy troubles fast increase,
Thou needst not doubt thy Father's love:
Though he delay, yet trust his word;
For true and faithful is the LORD.
Yes, Israel's GOD was never known
To leave his children in distress;
Mercy and truth surround his throne,
His judgements all are righteousness:
Still shall my soul this truth accord;
I will for ever trust the LORD.
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