While Men Grow Bold in Wicked Ways

While men grow bold in wick­ed ways

And yet a God they own

My heart with­in me oft­en says

Their thoughts be­lieve there’s none.

Their thoughts and ways at once de­clare

Whate’er their lips pro­fess

God hath no wrath for them to fear

Nor will they seek His grace.

What strange self-flat­te­ry blinds their eyes!

But there’s a hast­en­ing hour

When they shall see with sore sur­prise

The ter­rors of Thy pow­er.

Thy jus­tice shall main­tain its throne

Though mount­ains melt away;

Thy judg­ments are a world un­known

A deep

un­fa­thomed sea.

Above the heav’ns’ cre­at­ed rounds

Thy mer­cies

Lord

ex­tend;

Thy truth out­lives the nar­row bounds

Where time and na­ture end.

Safety to man Thy good­ness brings

Nor ov­er­looks the beast;

Beneath the sha­dow of Thy wings

Thy child­ren choose to rest.

From Thee

when crea­ture-streams run low.

And mor­tal com­forts die

Perpetual springs of life shall flow

And raise our plea­sures high.

Though all cre­at­ed light de­cay

And death close up our eyes

Thy pre­sence makes eter­nal day

Where clouds can nev­er rise.