The Treasury Of Sacred Song

How are Thy servants blest, O LORD!

How sure is their defence!

Eternal wisdom is their guide,

Their help Omnipotence.

In foreign realms, and lands remote,

Supported by Thy care,

Through burning climes I pass'd unhurt,

And breathed in tainted air.

Thy mercy sweeten'd every soil,

Made every region please;

The hoary Alpine hills it warm'd,

And smoothed the Tyrrhene seas [178] .

Think, O my soul, devoutly think,

How, with affrighted eyes,

Thou saw'st the wide-extended deep

In all its horrors rise!

Confusion dwelt in every face,

And fear in every heart;

When waves on waves, and gulphs on gulphs,

O'ercame the pilot's art.

Yet then from all my griefs, O LORD,

Thy mercy set me free;

Whilst, in the confidence of prayer,

My soul took hold on Thee.

For though in dreadful whirls we hung

High on the broken wave,

I knew Thou wert not slow to hear,

Nor impotent to save.

The storm was laid, the winds retired,

Obedient to Thy will;

The sea that roar'd at Thy command,

At Thy command was still.

In midst of dangers, fears, and death,

Thy goodness I'll adore;

And praise Thee for Thy mercies past,

And humbly hope for more.

My life, if Thou preserv'st my life,

Thy sacrifice shall be;

And death, if death must be my doom,

Shall join my soul to Thee.