Each within his power abides.
Wond’rous wisdom! can he then
Deign to mark the sons of men!
Thought infirm! for infinite
Is His providential sight,
And no things of earth and air,
Small or mean, elude His care.
What sweet comfort to each breast,
That would on his mercy rest,
Thus to know a Father’s love,
Guards us as the stars above.
By Thy Spirit’s grace impart
That pure, humble, contrite heart,
Loved of Thee, that we may share
All thy goodness, power, and care.
Omnipresent Power.
Oh God thine omnipresent power
’Tis beautiful to trace,
As manifested in each flower,
Or through the realms of space.
All nature’s scenes, though in themselves
Most lovely, bright, and fair,
Are redolent with glorious life
When we behold Thee there!
The gentle breeze, or verdant mead;
The sunset clouds above;
The sparkling stream, the waving tree,
Then witness to thy love.
And e’en the grandeur of the storm,
Or dashing of the tide,
Their terrors lose when thou art known
Their fearful might to guide.
The starry worlds so clear and bright,
And numberless foretel,
There must be worlds of heavenly light
Where minds angelic dwell.
The pure in heart behold their God,
Oh make our spirits pure,
That both in earth and heaven we may
Behold Thee evermore.
Providence.
Lord! thy providential care
Through life’s journey may we share;
Knowing, from thy throne above,
Thou regardest us with love.
Daily give us food to eat,
Peaceful homes, and raiment meet;
All our earthly wants supply
With a Father’s watchful eye.
Guard by thine Almighty power
In temptation’s trying hour;
And each chast’ning sorrow bless
To eternal happiness.
Sunshine and alternate rain
Make the green herbs spring amain;
May the joys or pains we know
Cause our hearts in grace to grow.
Mighty Father, Prince of Peace,
Give thy kingdom vast increase;
Make thy sons in every land
Countless as the sea-side sand.
Day by day our souls advance
To their heavenly heritance,
Till at last they calmly rest
In thy glorious presence blest.
Angelic Visits.
In ancient times bright angels
Oft burst upon the sight,
In radiant forms, and filled the hearts
Of men with rich delight.
Then earth was nigh to heaven,
And man more good and pure,
And through his spirit’s holy strength
Such brightness could endure.
But now deep clouds of darkness
Shut out the realms of light,
And shroud the earth beneath the shade
Of sin’s impervious night.
Oh that the veil were rended
Which hides them from our view,
That they might come in loving bands
Their visits to renew.
Are they not elder brothers
Advanced to higher spheres,
Who with bright tales of those high worlds
Could oft entrance our ears?
Then darkening doubt would vanish,
And faith would burn serene,
And man rejoice in glorious hope
Of heavenly worlds unseen.
Yea oft in holy vision
Their shores he might behold,
More fair than light, more rich than gems,
More radiant than gold.
Oh Thou with love Redemptive,
Thy mighty work complete,
And cleanse all souls, that heaven and earth,
In one pure bond may meet.
Joy in God.
Phil. c. 4, v. 4.
“Rejoice ye always in the Lord,
Rejoice again, I say rejoice!”
What words of triumph, sounds of cheer,
As sweet as from a seraph’s voice!
Although temptations reign on earth,
Deep sorrows pierce, and losses pain,
Yet christians oft with holy mirth
May cheerfully rejoice again.
A heart replete with steadfast hope,
Illumed by faith serene and bright,
And warmed with holy love, will make
All earth’s afflictions short and light.
As sunshine spreading o’er the land,
Makes all creation seem more fair,
So God a higher honour gains
When happy looks his people wear.
Give us, O God, bright faith and love,
That we may praise with cheerful voice,
And hastening to glad realms above,
In thee may evermore rejoice.
The Great Object of Life.
The soul was framed to trust
In God’s eternal might,
His Goodness love, His truth revere,
And in His works delight.
This is the law of life,
And brings unfailing peace,
Gives praise to God, deep bliss to man,
And joys that never cease.
But man has fallen thence
And lost his primal state;
For falsehood changed the light of truth
And holy love to hate.
Truth’s kingdom to restore,
From evil to redeem,
Christ came, God manifest in flesh,
And reigns in heaven supreme.
Free pardon he can give,
And by the Spirit’s might,
Create the soul to love again
The good, the true, the right.
Thus “born of God” will man
A son of God become,
And through a pilgrimage on earth
Haste to a Father’s home.
The Close of Life.
Whene’er this breath of life departs
And mortals find a grave,
The dust alone to earth returns,
The soul to God who gave!
Just as the eaglet leaves its shell
To seek its native sky,
The spirit quits its flesh to gain
A spirit-world on high.
The sanctified, the good and true,
The pure in heart ascend,
To dwell before the eternal throne
In joys that know no end.
The resurrection and the life,
Redeeming God, art Thou;
Oh raise our souls to love divine,
And holy life bestow;
That when our time of trial ends,
In triumph we may soar,
To join the glorious angel bands
Rejoicing evermore.