THROUGH all the various, shifting scene
Of life's mistaken ill or good,
Thy hand, O GOD! conducts unseen,
The beautiful vicissitude.
Thou givest, with a father's care,
(Howe'er unjustly we complain,)
To each their necessary share
Of joy and sorrow, health and pain.
All things on earth, and all in heav'n
On thine eternal will depend;
And all for greater good were giv’n,
Would man pursue th' appointed end.
Be this our care-to all beside
Indiff'rent let our wishes be:
Passion be calm, and dumb be pride,
And fix'd our minds, O GOD! on thee.
CONSOLATORY VIEWS OF NATURE AND PROVIDENCE.
THE GOD of heaven is kind and just :
Then let no man complain;
Nor e'er his providence distrust,
- His high decrees arraign.
Though clouds should darken all the scene,
Be this thy steadfast aim,
Still to preserve a mind serene,
Free from all guilt and shame.
The lowliest flow'rs that deck the field,
Thy mute instructors are;
And wholesome admonition yield
Against corroding care.
Oh! listen to kind nature's voice:
To heav'n direct thine eyes;
There nobler objects claim thy choice,
And brighter prospects rise.
Far from anxiety and care,
Still seek that blissful shore,
Where discontent and dark despair
Shall rend thy heart no more.
THE UNIVERSAL PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
THE earth, and all the heav'nly frame,
Their great creator's love proclaim:
He gives the sun his genial pow'r,
And sends the soft refreshing show'r.
The ground with plenty blooms again,
And yields her various fruits to men;
To men, who, from his bounteous hand,
Receive the gifts of ev'ry land.
Nor to the human race alone
Is his paternal goodness shown;
The tribes of earth and sea and air
Enjoy his universal care.
Not ev'n a sparrow yields its breath,
Till GOD permit the stroke of death:
He hears the ravens when they call;
The father, and the friend of all!
THE CONSTANT PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
ETERNAL Source of ev'ry joy!
Well may thy praise our lips employ,
While in thy temple we appear;
Thy goodness crowns the circling year.
Wide as the earth and planets roll,
Thy hand supports and cheers the whole:
By thee the sun is taught to rise,
And darkness when to veil the skies.
The flow'ry spring, at thy command,
Embalms the air, and paints the land;
The summer-rays with vigour shine,
To raise the corn, and cheer the vine.
Seasons, and months, and weeks, and days,
Demand successive hymns of praise :
Still be the cheerful homage paid,
With morning light, and ev'ning shade.
O may our ever grateful tongue
In worlds unknown pursue the song,
And through eternal years adore
The COD of love, the GOD of pow'r.
DEPENDENCE UPON PROVIDENCE.
GREAT LORD of earth, and seas, and skies!
Thy wealth the needy world supplies:
On thee alone the whole depends,
Thy care to ev'ry part extends.
To thee perpetual thanks we owe,
For all our comforts here below;
Our daily bread thy bounty gives,
And ev'ry rising want relieves.
The wastes of life thy pow'r repairs,
Thy mercy stills all anxious cares;
Protected by thy guardian arm,
We live secure from ev'ry harm.
To thee we cheerful homage bring ;
In grateful hymns thy praises sing;
Direct to thee our joyful eyes,
And humbly look for fresh supplies.
And, should thy measures seem severe,
Calmly may we thy chast'ning bear;
Without complaint to thee submit,
Th' unerring judge of what is fit!
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