Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy good spirit. 256. SEEKING GOD. O God, Thou art my God, earnestly do I seek Thee! my soul thirsteth, my flesh longeth for Thee, as in a dry, thirsty land. Thus I look toward Thee in Thy sanctuary, to behold Thy power and Thy glory! For Thy loving-kindness is better than life; therefore my lips shall praise Thee! Thus will I bless Thee, while I live; in Thy name will I lift up my hands! My soul shall be satisfied as with Thy mercy, and with joyful lips my mouth shall praise Thee, When I think of Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night-watches. For Thou art my help, and in the shadow of Thy wings I rejoice; Thy right hand. holdeth me up. 257. PRECIOUS IS THY LOVING-KINDNESS. Thy mercy, O Lord, is as the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the richness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures. For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy sight shall we see light. O continue Thy loving-kindness unto them. that know Thee; and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart. 258. REDEMPTION. Thou art a God who doest wonders; Thou hast manifested Thy power among the nations. With Thy strong arm Thou didst redeem Thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. The waters saw it, O God! the waters saw Thee, and feared, and the deep trembled. The clouds poured water, the skies sent forth thunder, and Thine arrows flew. Thy thunder roared in the whirlwind; the lightning illumined the world; the earth trembled and shook. Thy way was through the sea, and Thy path through great waters; and Thy footsteps could not be found. Thou didst lead Thy people like a flock; by the hands of Thy holy messengers. Hal lelujah. 259. HALLELUJAH. (Psalm 150.) Praise ye the Lord! praise God in His sanctuary! praise Him in His glorious firma ment! Praise Him for His mighty deeds! praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of trumpets! praise Him with the psaltery and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance! praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with the clear-sounding cymbals! praise Him with the high-sounding cymbals! Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord! Hallelujah! 260. SLEEP THY LAST SLEEP. Sleep thy last sleep, Free from care and sorrow; Rest where none weep, "Till th' eternal morrow. Though dark waves roll O'er the silent river, Thy faiting soul Heaven can deliver. Life's dream is past, All its sin and sadness, Dawns a day of gladness. Earth receives our treasure, Waiting all His pleasure. Though we may mourn Those who here have left us, Not for ever more, Death, hast thou bereft us. Comforting our weeping, Ye shall rejoice When awake your sleeping. 261. WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND. Sunset and evening star And one clear call for me, And may there be no moaning of the bar, But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep, Turns again home. For tho' from out the bourne of time and place The tide may bear me far, I hope to see my pilot face to face, When I have crossed the bar. 262. THE MELLOW EVE. The mellow eve is gliding My soul would sink to rest. The evening star has lighted 263. WHY ART THOU CAST DOWN? Why art thou cast down, my soul, Feel'st thou not the Father nigh, God is love! |