2 In my distress I sought my God,
I sought Jehovah's face;

My cry before him came; he heard
Out of his holy place.

3 The Lord descended from above,

And bowed the heavens most high,
And underneath his feet he cast
The darkness of the sky.

4 On cherub and on cherubim
Full royally he rode,

And on the wings of mighty winds
Came flying all abroad.

5 The voice of God did thunder high,
The lightnings answered keen;
The channels of the deep were bared,
The world's foundations seen.

6 And so delivered he my soul:
Who is a Rock but he?

He liveth-Blessed be my Rock!
My God exalted be!

1

Angel's Hymn-Wareham-Philadelphia.

1 Honour and happiness unite

L.M.

To make the Christian's name a praise; How fair the scene, how clear the light, That fills the remnant of his days!

2 A kingly character he bears,
No change his priestly office knows;
Unfading is the crown he wears,
His joys can never reach a close.
3 Adorned with glory from on high,
Salvation shines upon his face;
His robe is of the ethereal dye,
His steps are dignity and grace.
4 Inferior honours he disdains,

Nor stoops to take applause from earth;
The King of kings himself maintains
The expenses of his heavenly birth.
5 The noblest creature seen below,
Ordained to fill a throne above,
God gives him all he can bestow,
His kingdom of eternal love!

6 My soul is ravished at the thought! Methinks from earth I see him rise! Angels congratulate his lot,

And shout him welcome to the skies!

259. LIVELY HOPE AND GRACIOUS FEAR. C. M.

Gräfenberg-Burton-Prestwich.

1 I was a grovelling creature once,
And basely cleaved to earth;

I wanted spirit to renounce
The clod that gave me birth.

2 But God has breathed upon a worm,
And sent me from above

Wings, such as clothe an angel's form,
The wings of joy and love.

3 With these to Pisgah's top I fly,
And there delighted stand,
To view beneath a shining sky
The spacious promised land.

4 The Lord of all the vast domain
Has promised it to me;

The length and breadth of all the plain, As far as faith can see.

5 How glorious is my privilege!
To thee for help I call;

I stand upon a mountain's edge,
Oh save me, lest I fall!

6 Though much exalted in the Lord,
My strength is not my own;
Then let me tremble at his word,

And none shall cast me down.

260. THE PATHS OF PEACE (Pr. iii. 13–17). C. M.

Howard-Newington-Bishopthorpe.

10 happy is the man who hears
Instruction's warning voice;

And who celestial Wisdom makes
His early, only choice.

2 For she has treasures greater far
Than east or west unfold;

And her rewards more precious are
Than all their stores of gold.

3 In her right hand she holds to view
A length of happy days;

Riches, with splendid honours joined,
Are what her left displays.

4 She guides the young with innocence,
In pleasure's paths to tread,
A crown of glory she bestows
Upon the hoary head.

5 According as her labours rise,
So her rewards increase;

Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.

While yet they sojourn here,

Thus all their days with God begin,
And spend them in his fear.

2 'Midst hourly cares may love present
Its incense to thy throne;

And, while the world our hands employs, Our hearts be thine alone.

3 As sanctified to noblest ends,

Be each refreshment sought;
And by each various providence

Some wise instruction brought. 4 When to laborious duties called, Or by temptations tried,

We'll seek the shelter of thy wings,
And in thy strength confide.
5 As different scenes of life arise,
Our grateful hearts would be
With thee, amidst the social band,
In solitude with thee.

6 In solid, pure delights, like these,
Let all my days be passed;
Nor shall I then impatient wish,
Nor shall I fear, the last.

262.

SATISFACTION OF SPIRIT.

St. Lawrence-St. David's-Prestwich,

1 Joy is a fruit that will not grow
In nature's barren soil;

All we can boast till Christ we know,
Is vanity and toil.

C. M.

2 But where the Lord has planted grace,
And made his glories known;

There fruits of heavenly joy and peace
Are found, and there alone.