Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion Part 45

1 Lo, the lilies of the field!

How their leaves instruction yield!

Hark to nature's lesson given By the blessed birds of heaven!

Every bush and tufted tree Warbles trust and piety:-- Mortals, banish doubt and sorrow, G.o.d provideth for the morrow.

2 One there lives, whose guardian eye Guides our earthly destiny; One there lives, who, Lord of all, Keeps His children lest they fall: Pa.s.s we, then, in love and praise, Trusting Him through all our days, Free from doubt and faithless sorrow,-- G.o.d provideth for the morrow.

268. 10s. M. Jones Very.

The Son.

1 Father! I wait Thy word. The sun doth stand Beneath the mingling line of night and day, A listening servant, waiting Thy command, To roll rejoicing on its silent way.

2 The tongue of time abides the appointed hour, Till on our ear its solemn warnings fall; The heavy cloud withholds the pelting shower,-- Then, every drop speeds onward at Thy call.

3 The bird reposes on the yielding bough, With breast unswollen by the tide of song;-- So does my spirit wait Thy presence now, To pour Thy praise in quickening life along.

269. 7s. M. Bowring.

"Father! Glorify Thy Name!"

1 Father! glorify Thy name!

Whatsoe'er our portion be, Wheresoever led by Thee, If to glory,--if to shame,-- Father! glorify Thy name!

2 Let Thy name be glorified!

If in doubt and darkness lost, Hope deceived and purpose crost, Naught amiss can e'er betide,-- Let Thy name be glorified!

3 Father! glorify Thy name!

Vain and blind our wishes are; This can be no idle prayer, This can be no worthless claim,-- Father! glorify Thy name!

270. L. M. C. Wesley.

G.o.d Leads Us Right.

1 Leader of Israel's host, and Guide Of all who seek the land above, Beneath Thy shadow we abide, The cloud of Thy protecting love; Our strength Thy grace, our rule Thy word, Our end the glory of the Lord.

2 By Thine unerring Spirit led, We shall not in the desert stray, We shall not full direction need, Nor miss our providential way; As far from danger as from fear, While love, almighty love, is near.

271. 7s. M. *Cowper.

The Cross.

1 'Tis my happiness below Not to live without the cross, But the Saviour's power to know, Sanctifying every loss: Trials must and will befall; But with humble faith to see Love inscribed upon them all,-- This is happiness to me.

2 G.o.d in Israel sows the seeds Of affliction, pain, and toil; These spring up, and choke the weeds Which would else o'erspread the soil; Trials make our faith sublime, Trials give new life to prayer, Lift us to a holier clime, Make us strong to do and bear.

272. 8 & 7s. M. Anonymous.

Taking up the Cross.

1 Saviour! I my cross have taken, All to leave, and follow thee; Though by all things else forsaken, Thou shall my Redeemer be.

2 Perish every fond ambition, All I've sought, or hoped, or known, Yet, how rich is my condition!

G.o.d and heaven are still mine own.

3 Know, my soul, thy full salvation; Rise o'er sin, and fear, and care; Joy to find, in every station, Something still to do and bear.

4 Think what Spirit dwells within thee; Think what Father's smiles are thine; Think that Jesus died to win thee; Child of heaven, canst thou repine?

5 Haste thee on from cross to glory, Armed by faith and winged by prayer; Heaven's eternal day's before thee, G.o.d's own hand shall lead thee there.

273. C. M. Moore.

Faith.

1 The dove, let loose in Eastern skies, Returning fondly home, Ne'er stoops to earth her wing, nor flies Where idle warblers roam;

2 But high she shoots through air and light, Above all low delay, Where nothing earthly bounds her flight, Nor shadow dims her way.

3 So grant me, Lord, from every snare And stain of pa.s.sion free, Aloft, through faith's serener air, To urge my course to Thee:

4 No sin to cloud, no lure to stay, My soul, as home she springs; Thy suns.h.i.+ne on her joyful way, Thy freedom on her wings!