Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion Part 88

1 O almighty G.o.d of love!

Thy holy arm display; Send us succor from above, Against the evil day; Arm our weakness with Thy power; Put Thy strength our hearts within; Be our stronghold and our tower Against the a.s.saults of sin.

2 Could we of Thy strength take hold, And always feel Thee near, Confident, divinely bold, Our souls would know no fear.

Nothing could their firmness shock; Though the gates of h.e.l.l a.s.sail, Were we built upon the rock They never could prevail.

3 Thou would'st, in the trying hour, A sure protection be, Guard us from temptation's power, And fix our souls on Thee.

Lord, on Thee our trust is placed; Never thence may we remove; In the arms of love embraced, Thine everlasting love.

525. S. M. *

Why Art Thou Cast Down, My Soul?

1 We pray for truth and peace; With weary hearts we ask Some rest in which our souls may cease From life's perplexing task.

We weep--yet none is found; We weep--yet hope grows faint;-- And deeper in its mournful sound Goes up our wild complaint.

2 Only to living faith The promises are shown; And by the love that pa.s.ses death The rest is won alone.

Be ours the earnest heart, Be ours the steady will, To work in silent trust our part; For G.o.d is working still.

3 Then newer lights shall rise Above these clouds of sin, And heaven's unfolding mysteries To glad our souls begin.

Our hearts from fear and wrong Shall win their full release, With G.o.d's own might forever strong, And calm with G.o.d's own peace.

526. C. M. Anonymous.

Prayer for Faith.

1 That might of faith, O Lord! bestow, Which cannot ask in vain; Which will not let the angel go Until the prayer it gain.

2 On me the faith divine bestow Which doth the mountain move; And all my spotless life shall show The omnipotence of love.

3 And, Father, when I doubt that I Can live, and sin no more; Then if on Thee I dare rely, The faith shall bring the power.

527. L. M. Anonymous.

For Self-Renunciation.

1 Father of might, my bonds I feel, And long for perfect liberty; I would deny my selfish will, And, Father, give up all to Thee!

2 O, with Thy strength my weakness fill!

That strength shall every foe subdue; The doubts that tempt, the sins that kill, The wishes to the cross untrue.

3 A sinless mind in me reveal, Thy spirit's fulness, Lord, impart!

Till all my spotless life shall tell The abundance of a loving heart.

4 So shall I own Thy perfect sway, And, sitting humbly at Thy feet, Thy law with all my heart obey, And all my soul to Thee submit.

528. 8 & 7s. M. Anonymous.

Dedication to G.o.d.

1 Holy Father, Thou hast taught me I should live to Thee alone; Year by year, Thy hand hath brought me On through dangers oft unknown.

When I wandered, Thou hast found me; When I doubted, sent me light; Still Thine arm has been around me, All my paths were in Thy sight.

2 In the world will foes a.s.sail me, Craftier, stronger far than I; And the strife may never fail me, Well I know, before I die.

Therefore, Lord, I come, believing Thou canst give the power I need; Through the prayer of faith receiving Strength,--the spirit's strength indeed.

3 I would trust in Thy protecting, Wholly rest upon Thine arm, Follow wholly Thy directing, Thou mine only guard from harm!

Keep me from mine own undoing, Help me turn to Thee when tried, Still my footsteps, Father, viewing, Keep me ever at Thy side!

529. L. M. Doddridge.

The Patient Waiting upon G.o.d.

1 Wait on the Lord, ye heirs of hope, And let His word support your souls; Well can He bear your courage up, And all your foes and fears control.

2 He waits His own well-chosen hour The intended mercy to display; And His paternal pities move, While wisdom dictates the delay.

3 Blest are the humble souls that wait With sweet submission to His will; Harmonious all their pa.s.sions move, And in the midst of storms are still;--

4 Still, till their Father's well-known voice Wakens their silence into songs; Then earth grows vocal with His praise, And heaven the grateful shout prolongs.

530. L. M. C. Wesley.

G.o.d Our Deliverer.