If God His residence remove,
Or but conceal His face.
5 Nor earth, nor all the sky,
Can one delight afford,
Nor yield one drop of real joy,
Without Thy presence, Lord.
6 Thou art the sea of love,
Where all my pleasures roll:
The circle where my passions move,
And centre of my soul.
The All-sufficient Portion.
Y God, my portion, and my love,
My everlasting All,
I've none but Thee in heaven above,
Or on this earthly ball.
2 What empty things are all the skies,
And this inferior clod!
There's nothing here deserves my joys,
There's nothing like my God.
3 To Thee I owe my wealth, and friends,
And health, and safe abode :
Thanks to Thy Name for meaner things;
But they are not my God.
4 How vain a toy is glitt'ring wealth,
If once compared with Thee;
Or what's my safety, or my health,
Or all my friends to me?
5 Were I possessor of the earth,
And call'd the stars my own,
Without Thy graces and Thyself,
I were a wretch undone.
6 Let others stretch their arms like seas,
And grasp in all the shore;
Grant me the visits of Thy grace,
And I desire no more.
Triumphant Joy.
[By Dr. WATTS.]
Y God, the spring of all my joys,
The life of my delights,
The glory of my brightest days,
And comfort of my nights:
2 In darkest shades if Thou appear,
My dawning is begun ;
Thou art my soul's bright morning star,
And Thou my rising sun.
3 The opening heavens around me shine
With beams of sacred bliss,
If Jesus shows His mercy mine,
And whispers I am His.
4 My soul would leave this heavy clay
At that transporting word,
Run up with joy the shining way,
To see and praise my Lord.
5 Fearless of hell and ghastly death,
I'd break through every foe;
The wings of love and arms of faith
Would bear me conqu'ror through.
MY hope, my all, my Saviour Thou;
To Thee, lo, now my soul I bow;
I feel the bliss Thy wounds impart,
I find Thee, Saviour, in my heart.
2 Be Thou my strength,-be Thou my way;
Protect me through my life's short day :
In all my acts may wisdom guide,
And keep me, Saviour, near Thy side.
3 In fierce temptation's darkest hour,
Save me from sin and Satan's power;
Tear every idol from Thy throne,
And reign, my Saviour, reign alone.
4 My suff'ring time shall soon be o'er;
Then shall I sigh and weep no more:
My ransom'd soul shall soar away,
To sing Thy praise in endless day.
Praise delightful.
[By Dr. WATTS.]
MY When I begin Thy praise,
Y Saviour, my almighty Friend,
Where will the growing numbers end,
The numbers of Thy grace?
2 I trust in Thy eternal word;
Thy goodness I adore:
Send down Thy grace, O blessed Lord,
That I may love Thee more.
3 My feet shall travel all the length
Of the celestial road;
And march with courage, in Thy strength,
To see the Lord my God.
4 Awake! awake! my tuneful powers,
With this delightful song;
And entertain the darkest hours,
Nor think the season long.
"Nearer to Thee."
[By SARAH FLOWER ADAMS, who died in 1848.]
TEARER, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee:
Ev'n though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
2 Though like a wanderer,
Daylight all gone,
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I'd be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
3 There let the way appear
Steps up to heaven;
All that Thou sendest ne
In mercy given,
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
4 Then with my waking thoughts,
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs,
Bethel I'll raise ;
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
5 Or if on joyful wing,
Cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
By Rev. THOMAS GIBBONS, D. D., an English Congregationalist: died 1785.]
OW may the God of peace and love,
Who from th' impris'ning grave
Restored the Shepherd of the sheep,
Omnipotent to save ;
2 Through the rich merits of that blood
Which He on Calvary spilt,
To make th' eternal cov'nant sure,
On which our hopes are built ;-
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