5 0 Comforter of God's redeemed,

Whom the world does not see,

What hand should pluck me from the flood,

That casts my soul on thee?
Who would not suffer pain like mine,
To be consoled like me?

6 When I am feeble as a child,
And flesh and heart give way,
Then on thy everlasting strength
With passive trust I stay:

And the rough wind becomes a song,
The darkness shines like day.

7 0, blessed are the eyes that see,
Though silent anguish show
The love that in their hours of sleep
Unthanked may come and go;
And blessed are the ears that hear,
Though kept awake by woe.

8 Happy are they that learn, in thee,
Though patient suffering teach,
The secret of enduring strength,
And praise too deep for speech;
Peace that no pressure from without,
No strife within, can reach.

9 There is no death for me to fear,
For Christ, my Lord, hath died;

There is no curse in this my pain,

For he was crucified:

And it is fellowship with him

That keeps me near his side.

10 My heart is fixed, O God, my Strength, My heart is strong to bear:

I will be joyful in thy love,

And peaceful in thy care,

Deal with me for my Saviour's sake,
According to his prayer.

11 No suffering while it lasts is joy,
How blest soe'er it be;

Yet may the chastened child be glad
His Father's face to see;
And O, it is not hard to bear

What must be borne in thee.

12 It is not hard to bear by faith,
In thy own bosom laid,
The trial of a soul redeemed,
For thy rejoicing made:

Well may the heart in patience rest,
That none can make afraid.

13 Safe in thy sanctifying grace,
Almighty to restore,—

Borne onward-sin and death behind,

And love and life before;

O, let my soul abound in hope,
And praise thee more and more.

14 Deep unto deep may call; but I
With peaceful heart will say,
Thy loving-kindness has a charge
No waves can take away:

And let the storm that speeds me home,
Deal with me as it may.

456

1 ABIDE with me!

"Abide with Me!"

[For reading only.]

Fast falls the eventide,

The darkness thickens; Lord, with me abide: When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

2 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away: Change and decay in all around I see;

O thou, who changest not, abide with me.

3 Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as thou dwell'st with thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free,
Come, not to sojourn, but abide, with me.

4 Come, not in terrors, as the King of kings;

But kind and good, with healing in thy wings,

Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea,
Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me.

5 Thou on my head in early youth did'st smile,
And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left thee;
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

6 I need thy presence every passing hour;
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

7 I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness:
Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

8 Hold thou the cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies; Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee,

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

1 BE with me Lord, where'er I go;

Show me what thou would'st have me do;
Direct my thoughts and words this day,
And guide me in the narrow way.

L. M.

2 Prevent me lest I harbour pride,
And in my native strength confide;
Show me my weakness, let me see
I have my power, my all from thee.
3 Assist and teach me how to pray;
Incline my nature to obey;
What thou abhorrest, let me flee,
And only love what pleaseth thee.
4 Ever my kind Protector prove;
Enrich me always with thy love;
Make me with thy forgiveness blest,
And let thy Spirit on me rest.

458

66

Thy will be Done!" L. M. by repeating last line.

1 My God, my Father, while I stray

Far from my home, on life's rough way,

O teach me from my

heart to say,

Thy will be done.

2 If thou should'st call me to resign What most I prize-it ne'er was mine; I only yield thee what was thine;

Thy will be done.

3 Should pining sickness waste away My life in premature decay,

My Father still I strive to say,

Thy will be done.