4 His saints are precious in his sight; He views his children with delight; He sees their hope, he knows their fear, Approves and loves his image there. 25 L. M. Eternity of God. Ere mountains reared their forms sublime, Or heaven and earth in order stood— Before the birth of ancient time, From everlasting thou art God. 2 A thousand ages, in their flight, With thee are as a fleeting day; Past, present, future, to thy sight At once their various scenes display. 3 But our brief life’s a shadowy dream, A passing thought, that soon is o’er, That fades with morning’s earliest beam, And fills the musing mind no more. 4 To us, O Lord, the wisdom give Each passing moment so to spend, That we at length with thee may live, Where life and bliss shall never end. 26 L. M. “How unsearchable are thy judgments.” Rom. 11:33. Lord, my weak thought in vain would climb To search the starry vault profound: In vain would wing her flight sublime, To find creation’s outmost bound. 2 But weaker yet that thought must prove To search thy great eternal plan— Thy sovereign counsels, born of love Long ages ere the world began. 3 When my dim reason would demand Why that, or this, thou dost ordain, By some vast deep I seem to stand, Whose secrets I must ask in vain. 4 When doubts disturb my troubled breast, And all is dark as night to me, Here, as on solid rock, I rest; That so it seemeth good to thee. 5 Be this my joy, that evermore Thou rulest all things at thy will: Thy sovereign wisdom I adore, And calmly, sweetly trust thee still. 27 L. M. Omnipresence of God. Father of spirits! nature’s God, Our inmost thoughts are known to thee: Thou, Lord, canst hear each idle word, And every private action see. 2 Could we, on morning’s swiftest wings, Pursue our flight through trackless air, Or dive beneath deep ocean’s springs, Thy presence still would meet us there. 3 In vain may guilt attempt to fly, Concealed beneath the pall of night: One glance from thy all-piercing eye, Can kindle darkness into light. 4 Search thou our hearts, and there destroy Each evil thought, each secret sin, And fit us for those realms of joy Where naught impure shall enter in. 28 L. M. The Lord reigneth. Psalm 96:10. Jehovah reigns; his throne is high; His robes are light and majesty; His glory shines with beams so bright No mortal can sustain the sight.