Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 76

3 We ask not honors, which an hour May bring and take away; We ask not pleasure, pomp, and power, Lest we should go astray.

4 We ask for wisdom;--Lord, impart The knowledge how to live; A wise and understanding heart To all before thee give.

5 The young remember thee in youth, Before the evil days!

The old be guided by thy truth In wisdom's pleasant ways!

460. C. M. Cowper.

Walking with G.o.d.

1 O, for a closer walk with G.o.d!

A calm and heavenly frame!

A light to s.h.i.+ne upon the road That leads me to the Lamb!

2 What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!

How sweet their memory still!

But now I find an aching void The world can never fill.

3 Return, O holy Dove, return, Sweet messenger of rest; I hate the sins that made thee mourn, And drove thee from my breast.

4 The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be, Help me to tear it from thy throne, And wors.h.i.+p only thee.

461. C. M. Doddridge.

For Freedom from Secret Sin.

1 Searcher of hearts! before thy face I all my soul display; And, conscious of its innate arts, Entreat thy strict survey.

2 If, lurking in its inmost folds, I any sin conceal, O, let a ray of light divine The secret guile reveal.

3 If tinctured with that odious gall Unknowing I remain, Let grace, like a pure silver stream, Wash out the hateful stain.

4 If, in these fatal fetters bound, A wretched slave I lie, Smite off my chains, and wake my soul To light and liberty.

5 To humble penitence and prayer Be gentle pity given; Speak ample pardon to my heart, And seal its claim to heaven.

462. S. M. Grunbeck.

Self-abandonment to G.o.d.

1 Lord! bring me to resign My doubting heart to thee; And, whether cheerful or distressed, Thine, thine alone to be.

2 My only aim be this,-- Thy purpose to fulfil, In thee rejoice with all my strength, And do thy holy will.

3 Lord! thy all-seeing eye Keeps watch with sleepless care: Thy great compa.s.sion never fails; Thou hear'st my needy prayer.

4 So will I firmly trust, That thou wilt guide me still, And guard me safe throughout the way That leads to Zion's hill.

463. C. M. Cowper.

Religious Retirement.

1 Far from the world, O Lord! I flee, From strife and tumult far; From scenes, where sin is waging still Its most successful war.

2 The calm retreat, the silent shade, With prayer and praise agree; And seem, by thy sweet bounty, made For those who follow thee.

3 There, if thy spirit touch the soul, And grace her mean abode; O with what peace, and joy, and love, She communes with her G.o.d.

4 There, like the nightingale, she pours Her solitary lays; Nor asks a witness of her song, Nor thirsts for human praise.

5 Author and Guardian of my life, Sweet Source of light divine, And all harmonious names in one, My Father--thou art mine!

464. C. M. J. J. Gurney.

Silent Wors.h.i.+p.

1 Let deepest silence all around Its peaceful shelter spread; So shall the living word abound, The word that wakes the dead.

2 How sweet to wait upon the Lord In stillness and in prayer!

What though no preacher speak the word A minister is there:

3 He knows to bend the heart of steel, He bows the loftiest soul; O'er all we think and all we feel, How matchless his control!

4 And, O, how precious is his love In tender mercy given; It whispers of the blest above, And stays the soul on heaven.

5 From mind to mind, in streams of joy, The holy influence spreads; 'T is peace, 'tis praise without alloy, For G.o.d that influence sheds.

6 To thee, O G.o.d, we still will pray, And praise thee as before; For this thy glorious gospel-day, Teach us to praise thee more.