of the spirit of resignation and joyful submission which finds expression in the hymn. Newton says that Cowper tried to take his life, believing it was a sacrifice which God required at his hands. The accepted legend is that he had proposed to commit suicide at a certain place, but as the driver of the postchaise could not find it, he returned home without putting his purpose into execution, and there composed this hymn.

'OD moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform:

He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,

He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take:
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace:
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour:

The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain:
God is His own Interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

TUNE "ST. LEONARD'S" OR "LONDON NEW."

The third verse has been much used in times of danger and distress. It was often sung during the cotton famine, and there are few persons who cannot recall times and seasons when its comforting assurances helped to give fortitude and tranquillity to the soul. It would be difficult to find a hymn which more exactly corresponds to Lord Wolseley's ideal of a hymn, "plenty of consolation and not too much theology."

46-WHEN GATHERING CLOUDS AROUND I VIEW.

THIS is another of the hymns by Sir R. Grant, at one time Governor of Bombay.

WHEN

7HEN gathering clouds around I view,
And days are
dark and friends are few,

On Him I lean, who not in vain
Experienced every human pain.
He sees my wants, allays my fears,
And counts and treasures up my tears.
If aught should tempt my soul to stray
From heavenly wisdom's narrow way,
To flee the good I would pursue,
Or do the sin I would not do;
Still He, who felt temptation's power,
Shall guard me in that dangerous hour.
If wounded love my bosom swell,
Deceived by those I prized too well,
He shall His pitying aid bestow,
Who felt on earth severer woe,
At once betrayed, denied, or fled,
By those who shared His daily bread.
If vexing thoughts within me rise,
And, sore dismayed, my spirit dies :
Yet He, who once vouchsafed to bear

The sickening anguish of despair,
Shall sweetly soothe, shall gently dry
The throbbing heart, the streaming eye.
When sorrowing o'er some stone I bend,
Which covers what was once a friend;
And from his hand, his voice, his smile,
Divides me for a little while,
My Saviour marks the tears I shed:
For Jesus wept o'er Lazarus dead.

And O! when I have safely passed
Through every conflict but the last:
Still, still unchanging, watch beside
My dying bed — for Thou hast died:
Then point to realms of cloudless day,
And wipe the latest tear away.

TUNE- "STELLA."

This was one of the favourites of John Gough, the great temperance lecturer.

When the late Sir Edward Baines, founder and proprietor of the Leeds Mercury, and veteran reformer, lay dying, he asked his family to sing this hymn, after which he said with great thankfulness: "I feel inexpressibly full of His presence and glory."

47-THE LORD WILL PROVIDE.

FOR simplicity and unwavering confidence, there are few hymns of guidance to compare with this little song and chorus from Mr. Sankey's collection.

N some way or other the Lord will provide;

way :

And yet in His own way, "the Lord will provide." Then we'll trust in the Lord, and He will

provide;

Yes, we'll trust in the Lord, and He will provide.

At some time or other the Lord will provide:
It may not be my time, it may not be thy time;
And yet in His own time, "the Lord will provide."
Despond then no longer; the Lord will provide:
And this be the token no word He hath spoken
Was ever yet broken: "the Lord will provide."
March on then right boldly: the sea shall divide;
The pathway made glorious, with shoutings vic-
torious,

We'll join in the chorus, "The Lord will provide."
TUNE FROM "SONGS AND SOLOS."

48-BEGONE, UNBELIEF.

THIS hymn, by John Newton, has been a wonderful stand-by to multitudes. Newton, before he became a hymn-writer, had gone the pace indeed in his youth, but had experienced one of those marvellous conversions which are the moral miracles of life. He came through much tribulation into a state in which he could write: "I commit my soul to my gracious God and Saviour, who mercifully spared me when I was an apostate, a blasphemer, and an infidel, and delivered me from that state of misery on the coast of Africa into which my obstinate wickedness had plunged me, and who has pleased to admit me (though most unworthy) to preach His glorious gospel."

DEGONE, unbelief,

My Saviour is near,

And for my relief
Will surely appear;
By prayer let me wrestle,
And He will perform;
With Christ in the vessel.
I smile at the storm.

Though dark be my way, Since He is my guide, 'Tis mine to obey,

'Tis His to provide: Though cisterns be broken, And creatures all fail, The word He hath spoken Shall surely prevail.

His love, in time past,

Forbids me to think
He 'll leave me at last
In trouble to sink:
Each sweet Ebenezer
I have in review,
Confirms His good pleasure
To help me quite through.
Determined to save,

He watched o'er my path,
When, Satan's blind slave,
I sported with death.
And can He have taught me
To trust in His name,
And thus far have brought me
To put me to shame?

Why should I complain
Of want or distress,
Temptation or pain?

He told me no less;
The heirs of salvation,
I know from His Word,
Through much tribulation
Must follow their Lord.

How bitter that cup,

No heart can conceive,