Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion Part 43

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.