Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 85

514. C. M. Watts.

"From everlasting to everlasting, thou art G.o.d."

1 Our G.o.d, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home;

2 Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame, From everlasting thou art G.o.d, To endless years the same.

3 A thousand ages, in thy sight, Are like an evening gone; Short as the watch that ends the night, Before the rising sun.

4 Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day.

515. L. M. Cowper.

The Providence of Life.

1 Almighty King! whose wondrous hand Supports the weight of sea and land, Whose grace is such a boundless store, No heart shall break that sighs for more!

2 Thy providence supplies my food, And 'tis thy blessing makes it good: My soul is nourished by thy word; Let soul and body praise the Lord.

3 My streams of outward comfort came From him who built this earthly frame; Whate'er I want his bounty gives, By whom my soul forever lives.

4 Either his hand preserves from pain, Or, if I feel it, heals again; From strife and sorrow shields my breast, Or overrules them for the best.

516. 7s. M. 6l. Bowring.

The Pilgrimage of Life.

1 Lead us with thy gentle sway, As a willing child is led; Speed us on our forward way, As a pilgrim, Lord, is sped, Who with prayers and helps divine Seeks a consecrated shrine.

2 We are pilgrims, and our goal Is that distant land whose bourn Is the haven of the soul; Where the mourners cease to mourn, Where the Saviour's hand will dry Every tear from every eye.

3 Lead us thither! thou dost know All the way; but wanderers we Often miss our path below, And stretch out our hands to thee; Guide us,--save us,--and prepare Our appointed mansion there!

517. C. M. Montgomery.

"Looking for another country, that is an heavenly."

1 While through this changing world we roam, From infancy to age, Heaven is the Christian pilgrim's home, His rest at every stage.

2 Thither his raptured thought ascends, Eternal joys to share; There his adoring spirit bends, While here he kneels in prayer.

3 Oh! there may we our treasure place, There let our hearts be found; That still, where sin abounded, grace May more and more abound.

4 Henceforth our conversation be With Christ before the throne; Ere long, we eye to eye shall see, And know as we are known.

518. L. M. Doddridge.

Redeeming the Time.

1 G.o.d of eternity! from thee Did infant time its being draw; Moments and days, and months, and years, Revolve by thine unvaried law.

2 Silent and swift they glide away; Steady and strong the current flows, Lost in eternity's wide sea, The boundless gulf from whence it rose.

3 With it the thoughtless sons of men Before the rapid stream are borne On to their everlasting home, Whence not one soul can e'er return.

4 Great Source of wisdom! teach our hearts To know the price of every hour, That time may bear us on to joys Beyond its measure and its power.

519. C. H. M. J. Taylor.

What is your Life?

1 O, what is life?--'tis like a flower That blossoms and is gone; It flourishes its little hour, With all its beauty on: Death comes, and, like a wintry day, It cuts the lovely flower away.

2 O, what is life?--'tis like the bow That glistens in the sky: We love to see its colors glow; But, while we look, they die: Life fails as soon:--to-day 'tis here; To-morrow it may disappear.

3 Lord, what is life?--if spent with thee In humble praise and prayer, How long or short our life may be, We feel no anxious care: Though life depart, our joys shall last When life and all its joys are past.

520. L. M. Bowring.

Our Times are in thy Hand.