Songs V and VI
A Song of Praise for Provision Come, let us praise our Master's Hand, Which gives us Daily Bread; Thy House, my Lord, is full of Guests, Thy Table richly spread: Earth is thy Table, where thy Guests Do daily sit and feed; Thy Hand Carves every one his Part, And suffers none to Need. Naked came I into the World, And nothing with me brought; And nothing have I here deserv'd, Yet have I lacked Nought. I do not bless my Lab'ring Hand, My Lab'ring Head, or Chance; Thy Providence, most Gracious God, Is mine Inheritance. Thy Bounty gives me Bread with Peace, A Table free from Strife; Thy Blessing is the Staff of Bread, Which is the Staff of Life. The People sate in Companies, My Saviour fed them all; So all the Families of th' Earth Have Tables in God's Hall. The Vine and Olive-Branches too Are Nourish'd by thy Care; Mercies we eat, Mercies we drink, Mercies we daily wear. Shall I repine against my God, That kept me all my Days? Then let my Tongue forget to taste, When it forgets to praise. | A Song of Praise for Protection My God, my only Help and Hope, My strong and sure Defence: For all my Safety and my Peace I bless thy Providence. The daily Favours of my God I cannot Sing at large; Yet let me make this Holy Boast, I am th' Almighty's Charge. Lord, in the Day, thou art about The Paths wherein I tread; And in the Night, when I lie down, Thou art about my Bed. I travel through the Wilderness, Free from the Beasts of Prey; The Wolves and Lions Mouths are stopp'd, The Serpents creep away. In Preservation God Creates, Delivers in Protection; Lord, every Moment of my Life Is like a Resurrection. A thousand Deaths I daily 'scape, I pass by many a Pit, I sail by many dreadful Rocks, Where others have been split. I see blind People with mine Eyes, To Hospitals I walk; I hear of them that cannot hear, And of the Dumb I talk; Lord, what am I that thou should'st shew Such Favour unto me? My Bones and Senses all must say, Lord, who is like to thee? |