Look up to thy God again,

Soul, sunk in affliction!

Shall He be reproach’d by men

Through thy sore dejection?

Satan’s wiles dost thou not see?

By severe temptation,

Gladly would he keep from thee

Jesu’s consolation.

Shake thy head in scorn, and “flee,”

Bid the old deceiver—

“Wilt renew thy thrusts at me,

Me to fear deliver?

Serpent! bruis’d thy head I see;

Through His pain hath freed me

From thy grasp, my Lord, and He

To His joy will lead me.

“Dost thou charge my sin to me?

When did God command me

Judgment to require from thee?

Tell me, I demand thee!

Who did pow’r on thee bestow

Sentence to deliver?

Who thyself art sunk so low

In hell’s flames for ever.”

What I have not done aright

Me with sorrow filleth,

But of Jesu’s blood the sight

All mine anguish stilleth.

He the ransom price hath paid,

From the cross relieves me,

When before God’s throne ’tis laid,

Inward joy He gives me.

In Christ’s innocence I boast,

His right is my glory,

Mine His merit, there I trust

As in stronghold hoary,

That the rage of every foe

Evermore resisteth,

Though the might of hell below

It to storm assisteth.

Rage then, devil, and thou, death!

Ye can never hurt me;

In the trials of my path

Doth God’s grace support me.

God His only Son to me,

Mov’d by love, hath given,

That to endless misery

I may not be driven.

Cry then, foolish world! amain,

That God lov’d me never,

That my cherish’d hope is vain,

Has deceiv’d me ever.

Had God been averse to me,

Would He have supported

All the gifts so rich and free

He to me imparted?

What is there in sky or sea,

What the wide earth over,

What that works no good for me,

Canst thou then discover?

Why do star so beauteously

Shine on us from Heaven?

Why are, but for good to me,

Air and water given?

Why do clouds their streams outpour?

Why do dews earth cover?

Why with verdure’s cover’d o’er,

Why flow blessings over

Hill and valley, field and wood?

Truly for my pleasure,

That I dwell secure, and food

Have in plenteous measure.

My soul on God’s word most dear

Feeds and liveth ever,

That all Christians love to hear

Daily, tiring never.

Soon and late my heart in me

God opes for receiving

Of the Spirit’s grace that He

Is so freely giving.

Why through holy men of old

Have God’s words been given?

That we by their light might hold

On our way to heaven,

My heart’s darkness to dispel,

From doubt to deliver,

That the conscience sure and well,

Be establish’d ever.

Now upon this holy ground

Build I most securely,

See how hell’s malicious hound,

Spends ’gainst me his fury.

He can never overthrow

What God hath upraisèd,

But what Satan’s hand doth do

That shall be abasèd.

I am God’s, and mine is God,

Who from Him can part me?

Tho’ the cross with heavy load

Press on me and smart me.

Let it press—the hand of love

Hath the cross laid on me,

He the burden will remove,

When the good is done me.

Children whom aright to guide

Parents would endeavour,

Must the father often chide,

Or they’d prosper never.

If I’m then a child of grace,

Should I shun God ever,

When He from sin’s devious ways,

Seeks me to deliver?

Gracious are the thoughts of God,

In the pain He’s sending,

Who here weeps beneath the rod,

Reaps not woe unending,

But eternal joy shall taste

In Christ’s garden dwelling,

That he shall be there at last,

Now assurance feeling.

Often God’s own children here

Sow in tears and sadness,

But at length the long’d-for year

Comes of joy and gladness;

For the reaping time appears,

All their labours after,

When are turn’d their grief and tears

Into joy and laughter.

Christian heart! courageously

All the griefs that pain thee

Cast behind thee joyfully,

More and more sustain thee

Let sweet consolation’s light;

Praise and honour give you

To the God of love and might,

He’ll help and relieve you.