256. S. M. Moravian.
Be of Good Courage.
1 Give to the winds thy fears!
Hope and be undismayed!
G.o.d hears thy sighs, and counts thy tears; G.o.d shall lift up thy head.
2 Through waves, through clouds and storms, He gently clears thy way; Wait thou His time, so shall the night Soon end in joyous day.
3 He everywhere hath rule, And all things serve His might; His every act pure blessing is, His path, unsullied light.
4 Thou comprehend"st Him not; Yet earth and heaven tell, G.o.d sits as sovereign on the throne; He ruleth all things well.
5 Thou seest our weakness, Lord, Our hearts are known to Thee; O, lift Thou up the sinking hand, Confirm the feeble knee!
6 Let us, in life or death, Boldly Thy truth declare; And publish, with our latest breath, Thy love and guardian care.
257. S. M. Anonymous.
Rejoice in the Lord Alway.
1 Rejoice in G.o.d alway; When earth looks heavenly bright, When joy makes glad the livelong day, And peace shuts in the night.
2 Rejoice when care and woe The fainting soul oppress; When tears at wakeful midnight flow, And morn brings heaviness.
3 Rejoice in hope and fear; Rejoice in life and death; Rejoice when threatening storms are near, And comfort languisheth.
4 When should not they rejoice, Whom Christ his brethren calls; Who hear and know his guiding voice, When on their hearts it falls?
5 So, though our path is steep, And many a tempest lowers, Shall his own peace our spirits keep, And Christ"s dear love be ours.
258. S. M. *Doddridge.
G.o.d Will Provide.
1 How gentle G.o.d"s commands!
How kind His precepts are!
Come, leave your burdens to the Lord, And trust His constant care.
2 His bounty will provide; Ye shall securely dwell; The hand that bears creation up Shall guard His children well.
3 O, why should anxious thought Press down your weary mind?
Come, seek your Heavenly Father"s face, And peace and gladness find.
4 His goodness stands for all Unchanged from day to day; We"ll drop our burden at His feet, And bear a song away.
259. C. M. Cowper.
The Mysteries of G.o.d"s Providence.
1 G.o.d 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 vast designs, And works His sovereign will.
3 Ye fearful saints! fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy, and will 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; G.o.d is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.
260. C. M. Merrick.
"He Knoweth What Ye Have Need Of."
1 Author of good, we rest on Thee; Thine ever watchful eye Alone our real wants can see, Thy hand alone supply.
2 In Thine all-gracious providence Our cheerful hopes confide; O, let Thy power be our defence, Thy love our footsteps guide!
3 And since, by pa.s.sion"s force subdued, Too oft, with stubborn will, We blindly shun the latent good, And grasp the specious ill,--
4 Not what we wish, but what we want, Thy mercy still supply!
The good unasked, O Father, grant; The ill, though asked, deny!
261. L. M. Collett.
Reliance.