C. M.

The aged Christian's prayer and song.

PAUSE.

God of my childhood and my youth,

The guide of all my days,

I have declared thy heav'nly truth,

And told thy wondrous ways.

Wilt thou forsake my hoary hairs,

And leave my fainting heart?

Who shall sustain my sinking years,

If God my strength depart?

Let me thy power and truth proclaim

To the surviving age;

And leave a savor of thy name

When I shall quit the stage.

The land of silence and of death

Attends my next remove;

O may these poor remains of breath

Teach the wide world thy love!

Thy righteousness is deep and high,

Unsearchable thy deeds;

Thy glory spreads beyond the sky,

And all my praise exceeds.

Oft have I heard thy threat'nings roar,

And oft endured the grief;

But when thy hand has pressed me sore,

Thy grace was my relief.

By long experience have I known

Thy sovereign power to save;

At thy command I venture down

Securely to the grave.

When I lie buried deep in dust,

My flesh shall be thy care;

These withering limbs with thee I trust,

To raise them strong and fair.