To God's all-gracious heart and mind My heart and mind I yield; In seeming loss my gain I find, In death, life stands revealed. I am His own whose glorious throne In highest heaven is set; Beneath His stroke or sorrow's yoke His heart upholds me yet. | There is but one thing cannot fail, That is my Father's love; A sea of troubles may assail My soul,--'tis but to prove And train my mind, by warnings kind, To love the Good through pain; When firm I stand, full soon His hand Can raise me up again. | Yet oft we think, is aught withdrawn That flesh and blood desire, Our joy is lost, o'ercast our dawn, And faith and courage tire; With toil and care our hearts we wear, O'er our lost hope we brood; Nor think that all that doth befall Is meant to work our good. 214 | But where God rules it must be so, It must bring joy again; What now we deem but cross and woe Shall turn to comfort then. Have patience still, His gracious will Through thickest clouds shall gleam; Then torturing fears, and hopeless tears, Shall vanish like a dream. | The field can never bear its fruits, Save winter storm and freeze; Man's goodness withers at its roots In days of constant ease; The bitter draught of aloes quaffed, Health tints the cheeks once more; So to our heart can sorrow's smart New energy restore. | Then, O my God, with joy I cast My load of care on Thee; Take me, and while this life shall last Do as Thou wilt with me. Send weal or woe, as Thou shalt know Will teach me their true worth, And fit me best to stand their test, And show Thy glory forth. | If happy sunshine be Thy gift, With joy I take it, Lord; If o'er dark stormy seas I drift, I hear Thy guiding word; If lengthened life, with blessings rife, Before my feet be spread, So Thou my Guide wilt still abide, With joy that path I tread. | 215 But must I walk the vale of death Through sad and sunless ways, I pass along in quiet faith, Thy glance my fear allays; Through the dark land my Shepherd's hand Leads to an end so bright, That I shall there with praise declare That all God's ways are right! | |