| Shall I not sing praise to Thee, Shall I not give thanks, O Lord? Since for us in all I see How Thou keepest watch and ward; How the truest tenderest love Ever fills Thy heart, my God, Helping, cheering, on their road, All who in Thy service move. All things else have but their day, God's love only lasts for aye. | | 209 As the eagle o'er her nest Spreads her sheltering wings abroad, So from all that would molest, Doth Thine arm defend me, Lord; From my youth up e'en till now Of the being Thou didst give, And the earthly life I live, Faithful Guardian still wert Thou. All things else have but their day, God's love only lasts for aye. | | Nay, He kept not back His Son, But hath given Him for our good, And our safety He hath won By the shedding of His blood. O Thou fathomless abyss! My weak powers but strive in vain, Knowledge of Thy depths to gain, Man knows not such love as this. All things else have but their day, God's love only lasts for aye. | | And His Spirit, blessed Guide, In His holy Word doth teach, How on earth we may abide, So that heaven at last we reach; Every longing heart doth fill With the pure light of faith, That can break the bonds of death, And control the powers of ill. All things else have but their day, God's love only lasts for aye. | | 210 Truly hath He cared indeed For my soul's health, and no less If my body suffer need, Will He help in my distress. When my strength and courage fail, When my powers can do no more, Doth my God such strength outpour, That I rise up and prevail. All things else have but their day, God's love only lasts for aye. | | All the hosts of heaven and earth, Hath He placed at my command, Nowhere is there lack or dearth, But I find in sea and land All things ordered for my wants, Living things in fields and woods, On the heights or in the floods, And the earth brings forth her plants. All things else have but their day, God's love only lasts for aye. | | When I sleep my Guardian wakes, And revives my wearied mind; Every morning on me breaks With some mark of love most kind; Had my God not stood my Friend, Had His countenance not been Here my guide, I had not seen Many a trial reach its end. All things else have but their day, God's love only lasts for aye. | | 211 Often hath my crafty Foe Threatened to bring down on me Many a sore and heavy woe, From which yet my life is free; For the angel whom God sends, Wards off every threatened hurt, Every evil doth avert That mine Enemy intends. All things else have but their day, God's love only lasts for aye. | | As a father ne'er withdraws From a child his all of love, Though it often break his laws, Though it careless, wilful, prove: Even so my loving Lord Doth my faults with pity see, With His rod He chastens me, Not avenging with His sword. All things else have but their day, God's love only lasts for aye. | | When His strokes upon me light, Bitterly I feel their smart, Yet are they, if seen aright, Tokens that my Father's heart Yearns to bring me back again Through these crosses to His fold, From the world that fain would hold Soul and body in its chain. All things else have but their day, God's love only lasts for aye. | | 212 All my life I still have found, And I will forget it never, Every sorrow hath its bound, And no cross endures for ever. After all the winter's snows Comes sweet summer back again, Patient souls ne'er wait in vain, Joy is given for all their woes. All things else have but their day, God's love only lasts for aye. | | Since then neither change nor end In Thy love can e'er have place, Father! I beseech Thee send Unto me Thy loving grace. Help Thy feeble child, and give Strength to serve Thee day and night, Loving Thee with all my might, While on earth I yet must live; So shall I when Time is o'er, Praise and love Thee evermore. | |