Welcome, then, each darker token!
Mercy sent it from above!
So the heart, subdued, not broken,
Bends in fear, and melts with love.
James Edmeston, 1820.
Why should I fear the darkest hour,
Or tremble at the Tempter's power?
Jesus vouchsafes to be my Tower.
Though hot the fight, why quit the field?
Why must I either fly or yield,
Since Jesus is my mighty Shield?
When creature-comforts fade and die,
Worldlings may weep, but why should I?
Jesus still lives, and still is nigh.
Though all the flocks and herds were dead,
My soul a famine need not dread,
For Jesus is my living Bread.
I know not what may soon betide,
Or how my wants shall be supplied;
But Jesus knows, and will provide.
Though Sin would fill me with distress,
The throne of Grace I dare address,
For Jesus is my Righteousness.
Though faint my prayers, and cold my love,
My stedfast hope shall not remove
While Jesus intercedes above.
Against me earth and hell combine;
But on my side is Power divine ;
Jesus is all, and He is mine!
When gathering clouds around I view,
And days are dark and friends are few,
On Him I lean, who not in vain
Experienced every human pain;
He sees my wants, allays my fears,
And counts and treasures up my tears.
If aught should tempt my soul to stray
From heavenly wisdom's narrow way;
To fly the good I would pursue,
Or do the sin I would not do;
Still He, who felt temptation's power,
Shall guard me in that dangerous hour.
If wounded love my bosom swell,
Deceived by those I prized too well;
He shall His pitying aid bestow,
Who felt on earth severer woe;
At once betrayed, denied, or fled,
By those who shared His daily bread.
If vexing thoughts within me rise,
And, sore dismayed, my spirit dies;
Still He, who once vouchsafed to bear
The sickening anguish of despair,
Shall sweetly soothe, shall gently dry,
The throbbing heart, the streaming eye.
When sorrowing o'er some stone I bend,
Which covers what was once a friend,
And from his voice, his hand, his smile,
Divides me for a little while;
Thou, Saviour, mark'st the tears I shed,
For Thou didst weep o'er Lazarus dead!
And O when I have safely past
Through every conflict but the last;
Still, still unchanging, watch beside
My painful bed, for Thou hast died!
Then point to realms of cloudless day,
And wipe the latest tear away!
Sir Robert Grant. [1839.]
Whate'er my God ordains is right;
His will is ever just;
Howe'er He orders now my cause,
I will be still and trust.
He is my God;
Though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall;
Wherefore to Him I leave it all.
Whate'er my God ordains is right;
He never will deceive;
He leads me by the proper path,
And so to Him I cleave,
And take content
What He hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away,
And patiently I wait His day.
Whate'er my God ordains is right;
He taketh thought for me;
The cup that my Physician gives
No poisoned draught can be,
But medicine due ;
And on that changeless truth I build,
And all my heart with hope is fill'd.
Whate'er my God ordains is right;
Though I the cup must drink
That bitter seems to my faint heart,
I will not fear nor shrink;
Tears pass away
With dawn of day;
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
And pain and sorrow all depart.
Whate'er my God ordains is right;
My Light, my Life is He,
Who cannot will me aught but good;
I trust Him utterly ;
For well I know,
In joy or woe,
We soon shall see as sunlight clear,
How faithful was our Guardian here.
Whate'er my God ordains is right ;
Here will I take my stand,
Though sorrow, need, or death make earth For me a desert land.
My Father's care
Is round me there;
He holds me that I shall not fall,
And so to Him I leave it all.
Catherine Winkworth. 1858. (From S. Rodigast.)
"Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord."-JAMES v. 7.)
When languor and disease invade
This trembling house of clay,
'Tis sweet to look beyond the cage,
And long to fly away.
Sweet to look inward, and attend
The whispers of His love;
Sweet to look upward to the place
Where Jesus pleads above.
Sweet to look back, and see my Name
In Life's fair book set down;
Sweet to look forward, and behold
Eternal joys my own.
Sweet to reflect, how Grace Divine
My sins on Jesus laid;
Sweet to remember, that His Blood
My debt of sufferings paid.
Sweet on His Righteousness to stand
Which saves from second death;
Sweet to experience, day by day,
His Spirit's quickening breath.
Sweet on His faithfulness to rest,
Whose love can never end;
Sweet on His covenant of grace
For all things to depend.
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