3 Did ever mourner plead with Thee,
And Thou refuse that mourner's plea?
Does not Thy word still fixed remain,
That none shall seek Thy face in vain ?
4 That were a grief I could not bear,
Didst Thou not hear and answer prayer;
But a prayer-hearing, answering God,
Supports me under every load.
5 Fair is the lot that's cast for me;
I have an Advocate with Thee;
They whom the world caresses most
Have no such privilege to boast.
6 Poor though I am, despised, forgot,
Yet God, my God, forgets me not;
And he is safe, and must succeed,
For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead.
502 Whom the Lord loveth He chasten
eth.-Heb. 12, 6.
1 TIS my happiness below,
Not to live without the cross,
But the Saviour's power to know,
Sanctifying every loss.
2 Trials must and will befal,
But, with humble faith to see
Love inscribed upon them all,-
This is happiness to me.
3 God, in Israel, sows the seeds
Of affliction, pain, and toil,
These spring up, and choke the weeds
Which would else o'erspread the soil,
4 Trials make the promise sweet:
Trials give new life to prayer:
Trials bring me to His feet,
Lay me low, and keep me there.
5 Did I meet no trials here,
No correction by the way,
Might I not with reason fear,
I should prove a castaway?
503 Commit thy way unto the Lord:
trust also in Him.-Ps. 37, 5.
LEAVE God to order all thy ways
And hope in Him whate'er betide,
Thou'lt find Him in the evil days
Thine all-sufficient Strength and Guide:
Who trusts in God's unchanging love,
Builds on the rock that nought can
2. Only thy restless heart keep still,
And wait in cheerful hope; content
To take whate'er His gracious will,
His all discerning love hath sent.
Doubt not our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.
504 He will have compassion upon us.—
N the dark and cloudy day, When earth's riches flee away, And the last hope will not stay, My Saviour, comfort me.
2 When the hoard of many years,
Like a fleet cloud disappears,
And the future's full of fears,
My Saviour, comfort me.
3 When the secret idol's gone,
That my poor heart yearned upon,
Desolate, bereft, alone,
My Saviour, comfort me.
4 Thou who wast so sorely tried,
In the darkness crucified,
Bid me on Thy love confide,
My Saviour, comfort me.
5 Comfort me, I am cast down,
Tis my Heavenly Father's frown;
I deserve it all, I own;
My Saviour, comfort me.
6 In these hours of sad distress,
Let me know He loves no less,
Bids me trust His faithfulness,
My Saviour, comfort me.
7 Not unduly let me grieve,
Meekly the kind stripes receive,
Let me humbly still believe:
My Saviour, comfort me.
8 So it shall be good for me, Much afflicted now to be, If Thou wilt but tenderly,
My Saviour, comfort me.
Lord, remember me.-Luke 23, 42. THOU from whom all goodness flows,
I lift my soul to Thee:
In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes,
Dear Lord, remember me.
2 When on my aching, burdened heart, My sins lie heavily,
My pardon speak, new peace impart:
In love remember me.
3 When trials sore obstruct my way,
And ills I cannot flee,
Lord, let my strength be as my day:
For good remember me.
4 When worn with pain, disease and
This feeble body see;
Grant patience, rest, and kind relief:
Hear and remember me
5 If on my face, for Thy dear name,
Shame and reproach shall be,
All hail reproach, and welcome shame,
If Thou remember me.
6 When in the solemn hour of death,
I wait Thy just decree:
Saviour, with my last parting breath
I'll cry, Remember me.
506 Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.—
1 Sam. 7.12.
MY Ebenezer raise
To my kind Redeemer's praise;
With a grateful heart I own,
Hitherto Thy help I've known.
2 What may be my future lot,
Well I know concerns me not;
This should set my heart at rest,
What Thy will ordains is best.
3. I my all to Thee resign;
Father! let Thy will be mine;
May but all Thy dealings prove
Fruits of Thy paternal love.
4 Guard me, Saviour, by Thy power,
Guard me in the trying hour:
Let Thy unremitting care
Save me from the lurking snare.
5 Let my few remaining days
Be devoted to Thy praise;
So the last, the closing scene,
Shall be tranquil and serene.
6 To Thy will I leave the rest,
Grant me but this one request,
Both in life and death to prove
Tokens of Thy special love.
507 The Lord gave, and the Lord hath
taken away.-Job 1, 21.
Y times of sorrow and of joy,
Great God! are in Thine hand:
My choicest comforts come from Thee,
And go at Thy command.
2 If Thou shouldst take them all away,
Yet would I not repine;
Before they were possest by me,
They were entirely Thine.
3 Nor would I drop a murmuring word, Though the whole world were gone; But seek enduring happiness
In Thee, and Thee alone.
4 What is the world, with all its store?
Tis but a bitter sweet;
When I attempt to pluck the rose,
A pricking thorn I meet.
5 Here perfect bliss can ne'er be found, The honey's mixed with gall:
Midst changing scenes and dying friends,
Be Thou my All in all.
508 My times are in Thy hand.-Ps.
SOVEREIGN Ruler of the skies!
Ever gracious, ever wise!
All my times are in Thy hand;
All events at Thy command.
2 Times of sickness, times of health;
Times of penury and wealth;
Times of trial and of grief;
Times of triumph and relief;
3 Times the tempter's power to prove;
Times to taste a Saviour's love:
All must come, and last, and end,
As shall please my heavenly Friend.
4 Plagues and deaths around me fly;
Till He bids, I cannot die:
Not a single shaft can hit
Till the God of love sees fit.
5 O Thou Gracious, Wise, and Just,
In Thy hands my life I trust:
Have I somewhat dearer still?
I resign it to Thy will.
6 May I always own Thy hand-
Still to the surrender stand;
Know that Thou art God alone,
I and mine are all Thine own.
7 Thee at all times will I bless;
Having Thee, I all possess:
How can I bereaved be,
Since I cannot part with Thee?
509 I opened not my mouth; because
Thou didst it.-Ps. 39, 9.
1 IT is Thy hand, my God;
My sorrow comes from Thee:
I bow beneath Thy chastening rod,
I know Thou lovest me.
I would not murmur, Lord,
Before Thee I am dumb:
Lest I should breathe one murmuring
To Thee for help I come.
My God, Thy name is Love,
A Father's hand is Thine;
With tearful eyes I look above,
And cry, Thy will be mine!
I know Thy will is right,
Though it may seem severe:
Thy path is still unsullied light,
Though dark it may appear.
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