7 My pray'rs are now a chatt'ring noise, For JESUS hides his face;

I read, the promise meets my eyes,
But will not reach my case.

8 Now Satan threatens to prevail,
And make my soul his prey;
Yet; LORD, thy mercies cannot fail;
O come without delay.

344. Walking in Darkness. C. M. Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his GOD.-ISAIAH 1. 10.

HEAR,gracious GOD,my humble moan,
To thee I breathe my sighs:
When will the mournful night be gone?
And when my joys arise?

2 My Gob-O could I make the claim-
My father and my friend-
And call thee mine, by ev'ry name,
On which thy saints depend!

3 By ev'ry name of power and love,
I would thy grace entreat :

Nor should my humble hopes remove,
Nor leave thy sacred seat.

4 Yet tho' my soul in darkness mourns, Thy word is all my stay;

Here I would rest tili light returns,
Thy presence makes my day.

5 Speak,gracious Lord, and bid thy peace Relieve my aching heart;

O smile, and bid my sorrows cease,
And all the gloom depart.

6 Then shall my drooping spirit rise,
And bless thy healing rays,

And change these deep complaining
For songs of sacred praise. [sighs

845. The Evil Heart. S.M.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.-JER. Xvii. 9.

2

3

4

ASTONISH'D and distress'd,
I turn mine eyes within!

My heart with loads of guilt opprest,
The seat of every sin.

What crowds of evil thoughts,
What vile affections there!

Distrust, presumption, artful guile,

Pride, envy, slavish fear.

Almighty King of Saints,

These tyrant lusts subdue;

Expel the darkness of my mind,

And all my powers renew.

Then shall my cheerful voice
Its loud hosannas raise;

My soul shall glow with gratitude,
My lips proclaim thy praise.

346. Under the hidings of God's Countenance. L.M.

Save me, O GOD, for the waters are come in unto my soul.- PSALM lxix. I.

GOD of my life, to thee I call,
Afflicted at thy feet I fall;

When the great water-floods prevail
Leave not my trembling heart to fail.

2 Friend of the friendless and the faint! Where should I lodge my deep complaint?

Where, but with thee, whose open door
Invites the helpless and the poor!
3 Did ever mourner plead with thee,
And thou refuse that mourner's plea?
Does not the word still fix'd remain,
That none shall seek thy face in vaiu
4 [That were a grief I could not bear,
Didst thou not hear and answer prayer?
But a prayer-hearing, answering God?
Supports me under every load.]

5 Fair is the lot, that's cast for me;
I have an advocate with thee;
They, whom the world caresses most,
Have no such advocate to boast.

6 Poor though I am, despis'd, forgot,
Yet God, my GoD, forgets me not;
And he is safe, and must succeed,
For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead.

347. Under the Hidings of God's Coun

tenance.

C.M.

Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my Salvation; my GOD will hear me.-Mic. vii. 7.

SEE, LORD, before thy throne of grace,
A wretched waud'rer mourn !
Thyself hast bid me seek thy face;
Thyself hast said, Return.

2 And shall my guilty fears prevail
To drive me from thy feet?
Thy word of promise cannot fail,
My tow'r of safe retreat.

3 Absent from thee, my guide, my light, Without one cheering ray;

Through dangers, fears, and gloomy
How desolate my way!

[night,

4 O shine on this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy shine;
And let thy Spirit's voice impart
A taste of joys divine!

5 When trials vex my doubting mind,
Still to thy cross I'll flee;

No shelter can I elsewhere find,
No refuge, but in thee.

6 Thy presence only can bestow
Delights which never cloy:
Be this my comfort here below,
And my eternal joy.

2

3

4

348. His Desires after good. S.M.

5

The good that I would, I do not.-Rom. vii. 19.

I WOULD, but cannot sing, Guilt has untun'd my voice; The serpent sin's envenom'd sting Has poison'd all my joys.

I know the Lord is nigh,

And would but cannot pray :
For Satan meets me when I try,
And frights my soul away.

I would, but can't repent,
Though I endeavour oft;
This stony heart can ne'er relent
Till JESUS make it soft.

I would, but cannot rest
In God's most holy will;

I know what he appoints is best,
Yet murmur at it still.

O could I but believe!

Then all would easy be ;

I would, but cannot-Lord, relieve;
My help must come from thee!

6 But if indeed I would,

Though I can nothing do;

Yet the desire is something good,
For which my praise is due.