Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 101

1 Affliction is a stormy deep, Where wave resounds to wave; Though o'er our heads the billows roll, We know the Lord can save.

2 When darkness and when sorrows rose, And pressed on every side, The Lord hath still sustained our steps, And still hath been our Guide.

3 Perhaps, before the morning dawn, He will restore our peace; For he who bade the tempest roar, Can bid the tempest cease.

4 Here will we rest, here build our hopes, Nor murmur at his rod; He's more to us than all the world, Our Health, our Life, our G.o.d.

610. L. M. Miss Dodd.

"Thy will be done."

1 My Father, grant thy presence nigh To bear aloft my sinking soul, When sorrow o'er my pathway here In widely whelming waves doth roll.

O, teach mine else unguarded heart, The clouds of gloomy doubt to shun, To bow unto thy chastening hand, And meekly say "Thy will be done."

2 Though dark to us thy ways may seem, Thy needful chastis.e.m.e.nts severe; Thou dost not willingly afflict, Nor grieve thy erring children here.

O, teach my heart to lean on thee, To faith and resignation won, To see thy love in all its ways, And humbly say, "Thy will be done."

611. 7s. M. Anonymous.

Holy Contentment.

1 Lord, my times are in thy hand: All my fondest hopes have planned To thy wisdom I resign, And would make thy purpose mine.

2 Thou my daily task shalt give; Day by day to thee I live: So shall added years fulfil Not my own, my Father's will.

3 Fond ambition, whisper not; Happy is my humble lot: Anxious, busy cares, away; I'm provided for to-day.

4 O, to live exempt from care, By the energy of prayer, Strong in faith, with mind subdued, Yet elate with grat.i.tude!

612. L. M. 6l. Anonymous.

Invocation of our Father's Presence.

1 O Father,--draw us after thee!

So shall we run and never tire; Thy presence still our comfort be, Our hope, our joy, our sole desire; Thy Spirit grant;--for neither fear Nor sin can come, while that is here.

2 From all eternity, with love Unchangeable, thou hast us viewed; Before these beating hearts did move, Thy tender mercies us pursued: Ever with us may they abide, And close us in on every side.

3 In suffering be thy love our peace; In weakness be thy love our power; And when the storms of life shall cease, O G.o.d! in that important hour, In death as life be thou our guide, And bear us through death's whelming tide.

613. C. M. Heginbotham.

Praising G.o.d in all Changes.

1 Father of mercies, G.o.d of love, My Father and my G.o.d!

I'll sing the honors of thy name; And spread thy praise abroad.

2 In every period of my life, Thy thoughts of love appear; Thy mercies gild each transient scene, And crown each lengthening year.

3 In all these mercies may my soul A father's bounty see: Nor let the gifts thy grace bestows Estrange my heart from thee.

4 Then will I close my eyes in death, Free from distressing fear; For death itself is life, my G.o.d, If thou art with me there.

614. 7s. M. Cowper.

Welcome, Cross.

1 'Tis my happiness below Not to live without the cross, But the Saviour's power to know, Sanctifying every loss: Trials must and will befall; But with humble faith to see Love inscribed upon them all,-- This is happiness to me.

2 G.o.d in Israel sows the seeds Of affliction, pain and toil: These spring up and choke the weeds Which would else o'erspread the soil: Trials make the promise sweet; Trials give new life to prayer; Trials bring me to his feet, Lay me low, and keep me there.

615. L. M. Anonymous.

"Thy will be done."

1 When called, O Lord, to mourn the doom Of one affection held most dear,-- While o'er the closing, silent tomb, The bleeding heart distils the tear,-- Though love its tribute sure will pay, And early streams of solace shun, Still, still the humble soul would say, In lowly dust, "Thy will be done."

2 Whate'er, O Lord, thou hast designed To bring my soul to thee in trust, If miseries or afflictions kind,-- For all thy dealings, Lord, are just,-- Take all, but grant, in goodness free, That love which ne'er thy stroke should shun; Support this heart and strengthen me To say in faith, "Thy will be done."

616. C. M. Doddridge.

"My times are in thy hand."