AT THE APPROACH OF TEMPTATION.
God of my life, whose gracious power
Through various deaths my soul hath led,
Or turn'd aside the fatal hour,
Or lifted up my sinking head;
In all my ways Thy hand I own,
Thy ruling providence I see:
O, help me still my course to run,
And still direct my paths to Thee.
On Thee my helpless soul is cast,
And looks again Thy grace to prove:
I call to mind the wonders past,
The countless wonders of Thy love.
Thou, Lord, my spirit oft hast stay'd,
Hast snatch'd me from the gaping tomb,
A monument of mercy made,
And rescued me from wrath to come.
Oft hath the sea confess'd Thy power,
And gave me back to Thy command:
It could not, Lord, my life devour,
Safe in the hollow of Thy hand.
Oft from the margin of the grave
Thou, Lord, hast lifted up my head:
Sudden I found Thee near to save;
The fever own'd Thy touch, and fled.
But, O! the mightier work of grace,
That still the life of faith I live,
That still I pant to sing Thy praise,
That still my all I gasp to give!
Pluck'd from the roaring lion's teeth,
Caught up from the eternal fire,
Snatch'd from the gates of hell, I breathe,
And, lo! to heaven I still aspire!
Whither, O, whither should I fly,
But to my loving Saviour's breast?
Secure within Thy arms to lie,
And safe beneath Thy wings to rest.
I see the fiery trial near;
But Thou, my God, art still the same:
Hell, earth, and sin I scorn to fear,
Divinely arm'd with Jesu's Name.
I have no skill the snare to shun,
But Thou, O Christ, my wisdom art:
I ever into ruin run,
But Thou art greater than my heart.
I have no might to' oppose the foe,
But everlasting strength is Thine.
Show me the way that I should go,
Show me the path I should decline.
Which shall I leave, and which pursue?
Thou only my Adviser be;
My God, I know not what to do;
But, O! mine eyes are fix'd on Thee!
Foolish, and impotent, and blind,
Lead me a way I have not known;
Bring me where I my heaven may find,
The heaven of loving Thee alone.
Enlarge my heart to make Thee room;
Enter, and in me ever stay:
The crooked then shall straight become,
The darkness shall be lost in day!
