Thy needful chastisements severe;
Thou dost not willingly afflict,
Nor grieve thy erring children here.
O, teach my heart to lean on thee,
To faith and resignation won,
To see thy love in all its ways,
And humbly say, "Thy will be done."

611. 7s. M. Anonymous.

Holy Contentment.

1 Lord, my times are in thy hand:
All my fondest hopes have planned
To thy wisdom I resign,
And would make thy purpose mine.

2 Thou my daily task shalt give;
Day by day to thee I live:
So shall added years fulfil
Not my own, my Father's will.

3 Fond ambition, whisper not;
Happy is my humble lot:
Anxious, busy cares, away;
I'm provided for to-day.

4 O, to live exempt from care,
By the energy of prayer,
Strong in faith, with mind subdued,
Yet elate with gratitude!

612. L. M. 6l. Anonymous.

Invocation of our Father's Presence.

1 O Father,--draw us after thee!
So shall we run and never tire;
Thy presence still our comfort be,
Our hope, our joy, our sole desire;
Thy Spirit grant;--for neither fear
Nor sin can come, while that is here.

2 From all eternity, with love
Unchangeable, thou hast us viewed;
Before these beating hearts did move,
Thy tender mercies us pursued:
Ever with us may they abide,
And close us in on every side.

3 In suffering be thy love our peace;
In weakness be thy love our power;
And when the storms of life shall cease,
O God! in that important hour,
In death as life be thou our guide,
And bear us through death's whelming tide.

613. C. M. Heginbotham.

Praising God in all Changes.

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.

4 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.

614. 7s. M.