182.
God our Shepherd. Psalm 23.
1 THE Lord my pasture shall prepare,
And feed me with a shepherd's care;
His presence shall my wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful eye:
My noonday walks he shall attend,
And all my midnight hours defend.
2 When in the sultry glebe I faint,
Or on the thirsty mountain pant;
To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary, wandering steps he leads;
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the verdant landscape flow.
3 Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious, lonely wilds I stray,
Thy bounty shall my pains beguile;
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden greens and herbage crowned,
And streams shall murmur all around.
4 Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill;
For thou, O Lord! art with me still;
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.
183.
God our Shepherd. Psalm 23.
1 Lo, my Shepherd's hand divine!
Want shall never more be mine:
In a pasture fair and large
He shall feed his happy charge.
2 When I faint with summer's heat,
He shall lead my weary feet
To the streams that still and slow
Through the verdant meadows flow.
3 He
my soul anew shall frame,
And, his mercy to proclaim,
When through devious paths I stray,
Teach my steps the better way.
4 Thou my plenteous board hast spread;
Thou with oil refreshed my head:
Filled by thee my cup o'erflows;
For thy love no limit knows.
5 Constant, to my latest end,
Thou my footsteps shalt attend,
And shalt bid thy hallowed dome
Yield me an eternal home.
184.
MONTGOMERY.
God our Shepherd. Psalm 23.
1 THE Lord is my shepherd, no want shall I know, I feed in green pastures, safe folded I rest; He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow, Restores me when wandering, redeems when oppressed.
2 Through the valley and shadow of death though I stray,
Since thou art my guardian, no evil I fear;
Thy rod shall defend me, thy staff be my stay;
No harm can befall, with my Comforter near.
3 In the midst of affliction my table is spread;
With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o'er;
With perfume and oil thou anointest my head;
O what shall I ask of thy providence more?
Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God'
Still follow my steps, till I meet thee above;
I seek, by the path which my forefathers trod,
Through the land of their sojourn, thy kingdom
of love.
185.
God our Shepherd. Psalm 23.
1 My Shepherd is the living Lord,
I therefore nothing need;
In pastures fair, near pleasant streams,
He setteth me to feed.
2 He shall convert and glad my soul,
And bring my mind in frame
To walk in paths of righteousness,
For his most holy name.
3 Yea, though I walk the vale of death,
Yet will I fear no ill;
Thy rod and staff they comfort me,
And thou art with me still.
4 And, in the presence of my foes,
My table thou shalt spread;
Thou wilt fill full my cup, and thou
Anointed hast my head.
5 Through all my life thy favor is
So frankly shown to me,
That in thy house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be.
C. M.
186.
He crowneth us with his Tender Mercies.
1 FATHER of mercies! God of love!
My Father and my God!
I'll sing the honors of thy name,
And spread thy praise abroad.
2 In every period of my life
Thy thoughts of love appear; Thy mercies gild each transient scene, And crown each lengthening year.
3 In all these mercies may my soul
A Father's bounty see;
Nor let the gifts thy grace bestows
Estrange my heart from thee.
Teach me, in times of deep distress,
To own thy hand, O God!
And in submissive silence bear
The lessons of thy rod.
5 In every changing state of life,
Each bright, each gloomy scene,
Give me a meek and humble mind,
Still equal and serene.
6 Then will I close my eyes in death,
Free from distressing fear;
For death itself is life, my God!
If thou art with me there.
187.
Paternal Providence of God.
1 THROUGH all the various shifting scene Of life's mistaken ill or good,
Thy hand, O God! conducts, unseen,
The beautiful vicissitude.
2 Thou givest with paternal care,
Howe'er unjustly we complain,
To all their necessary share
Of joy and sorrow, health and pain.
3 All things on earth, and all in heaven,
On thine eternal will depend;
And all for greater good were given,
Would man pursue the appointed end.
4 Be this my care!- to all beside
Indifferent let my wishes be;
Passion be calm, and dumb be pride,
And fixed my soul, great God! on thee.
188.
"My times are in thy hand."
1 To thee, my God! my days are known;
My soul enjoys the thought;
My actions all before thy face,
Nor are my faults forgot.
2 Each secret breath devotion vents Is vocal to thine ear;
And all my walks of daily life
Before thine eye appear.
3 The vacant hour, the active scene,
Thy mercy shall approve;
And every pang of sympathy,
And every care of love.
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