Where’er I go, whate’er my task,
The counsel of my God I ask,
Who ruleth all things right;
Unless He give both thought and deed,
The utmost pains can ne’er succeed,
And vain must be man’s might.
2. For what can all my toil avail?
My care, my watching,—all must fail
Unless my God is there.
Then let Him order all for me
As in His will He shall decree;
On Him I cast my care.
3. For naught can come, as naught has been,
But what my Father has foreseen
And what shall work my good.
Whate’er He gives me I will take,
Whate’er He chooses I will make
My choice with thankful mood.
4. I lean upon His mighty arm,
Which shieldeth me from every harm
And all calamity.
If in His precepts I shall live,
Whate’er is useful He will give;
And naught can injure me.
5. But only may He of His grace
The record of my guilt efface
And wipe out all my debt;
Though I have sinned, He will not straight
Pronounce His judgment, He will wait,
Have patience with me yet.
6. I travel to a distant land
To serve the post wherein I stand,
Which He hath bid me fill;
And He will bless me with His light
That I may serve His world aright
And make me know His will.
7. And though through desert wilds I fare,
Yet Jesus Christ is with me there,
The Lord Himself is near;
In all my dangers He will come,
And He who kept me safe at home
Can keep me safely here.
8. Yes, He will speed me on my way
And point me where to go and stay
And help me still and lead;
Let me in health and safety live
And time and wind and weather give
And whatsoe’er I need.
9. His holy angel being near,
My enemies I need not fear,
For He protects me well;
I owe it to my faithful Guide,
Who never yet hath left my side,
That I in peace may dwell.
10. When late at night my sleep I take,
When early in the morn I wake,
At rest, or on my way,
In hours of weakness or in bonds,
When, vexed with fears, my heart desponds,
God’s Word is e’er my stay.
11. Since, then, my course is traced by Him,
I will not fear that future dim,
But go, whate’er befall,
Well knowing naught awaits me there
Too hard for me through Him to bear;
With Him I’ll conquer all.
12. To Him myself I wholly give,
At His command I die or live,
I trust His love and power;
And if to-morrow or to-day
His summons come, I will obey,
He knows the proper hour.
13. But if it please that Love most kind,
And if this voice within my mind
Be whispering not in vain,
I yet shall praise my God ere long
In many a sweet and joyful song
When in my home again.
14. To those I love will He be near,
With His consoling light appear,
Who is my Shield and theirs;
And He will grant beyond our thought
What they and I alike have sought
With tears and fervent prayers.

Paul Fleming, 1642; C. Winkworth, tr., 1858, a.

373

S. M.

Jesus, my Truth, my Way,
My sure unerring Light,
On Thee my feeble soul I stay,
Which Thou wilt lead aright.
2. My Wisdom and my Guide,
My Counselor Thou art;
O let me never leave Thy side
Nor from Thy paths depart!
3. Thou seest my feebleness;
Jesus, be Thou my Power,
My Help and Refuge in distress,
My Fortress and my Tower.
4. Give me to trust in Thee;
Be Thou my sure Abode;
My Horn and Rock and Buckler be,
My Savior and my God.
5. Myself I cannot save,
Myself I cannot keep;
But strength in Thee I surely have,
Whose eyelids never sleep.
6. My soul to Thee alone
Now, therefore, I commend.
Thou, Jesus, having loved Thine own,
Wilt love me to the end!

Charles Wesley, 1749.

374

S. M.

The Lord my Shepherd is,
I shall be well supplied:
Since He is mine and I am His,
What can I want beside?
2. He leads me to the place
Where heavenly pasture grows,
Where living waters gently pass
And full salvation flows.
3. If e’er I go astray,
He doth my soul reclaim
And guides me in His own right way
For His most holy name.
4. While He affords His aid,
I cannot yield to fear;
Though I should walk through death’s dark shade,
My Shepherd’s with me there.
5. The bounties of Thy love
Shall crown my following days;
Nor from Thy house will I remove
Nor cease to speak Thy praise.

Isaac Watts, 1719.

375

11s 4 l

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
2. In every condition,—in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,—
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.
3. Fear not, I am with Thee, oh, be not dismayed;
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
4. When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
5. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
6. E’en down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not, desert to His foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never, forsake!

Keen, 1787.

WARFARE.

376

L. M.

Fight the good fight with all thy might;
Christ is thy Strength and Christ thy Right.
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
Thy joy and crown eternally.
2. Run the straight race through God’s good grace,
Lift up thine eyes and seek His face;
Life with its way before us lies,
Christ is the Path and Christ the Prize.
3. Cast care aside; upon thy Guide
Lean, and His mercy will provide;
Lean, and the trusting soul shall prove
Christ is its Life and Christ its Love.
4. Faint not, nor fear, His arms are near;
He changeth not, and thou art dear;
Only believe, and thou shalt see
That Christ is all in all to thee.

J. S. B. Monsell, 1863.

377

7, 6, 8 l

Stand up!—stand up for Jesus!
Ye soldiers of the Cross;
Lift high His royal banner,
It must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory
His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished
And Christ is Lord indeed.
2. Stand up!—stand up for Jesus!
The trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict
In this His glorious day.
Ye that are men, now serve Him
Against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger
And strength to strength oppose.
3. Stand up!—stand up for Jesus!
Stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you,
Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor,
Each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger,
Be never wanting there.
4. Stand up!—stand up for Jesus!
The strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle,
The next, the victor’s song.
To him that overcometh,
A crown of life shall be;
He with the King of Glory
Shall reign eternally.

G. Duffield, 1858.

378

C. M.

Am I a soldier of the Cross,
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause
Or blush to speak His name?
2. Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas?
3. Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
4. Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord!
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
5. Thy saints, in all this glorious war,
Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar
With faith’s discerning eye.
6. When that illustrious day shall rise
And all Thine armies shine
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be Thine.

Isaac Watts, 1709, a.

379

S. M.

My soul, be on thy guard;
Ten thousand foes arise,
And hosts of sin are pressing hard
To draw thee from the skies.
2. O watch and fight and pray,
The battle ne’er give o’er;
Renew it boldly every day
And help divine implore.
3. Ne’er think the victory won,
Nor lay thine armor down;
Thine arduous work will not be done
Till thou receive thy crown.
4. Fight on, my soul, till death
Shall bring thee to thy God;
He’ll take thee at thy parting breath
To His divine abode.

George Heath, 1781.

380

S. M.

Soldiers of Christ, arise
And put your armor on;
Strong in the strength which God supplies
Through His eternal Son.
2. Strong in the Lord of hosts
And in His mighty power.
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts
Is more than conqueror.
3. Stand, then, in His great might,
With all His strength endued;
But take, to arm you for the fight,
The panoply of God:
4. That, having all things done
And all your conflicts past,
Ye may o’ercome through Christ alone
And stand entire at last.
5. From strength to strength go on,
Wrestle and fight and pray;
Tread all the powers of darkness down
And win the well-fought day.
6. Still let the Spirit cry
In all His soldiers, “Come,”
Till Christ the Lord descends from high
And takes the conquerors home.

Charles Wesley, 1749.

381

7, 6, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6

Rise, my soul, to watch and pray,
From thy sleep awake thee,
Lest at last the evil day
Suddenly o’ertake thee;
For the Foe, Well we know,
Oft his harvest reapeth
While the Christian sleepeth.
2. But first rouse thee and awake
From secure indiff’rence;
Else will follow in its wake
Woe without deliv’rance.
O beware! Soul, take care!
Death in sins might find thee
Ere thou look behind thee.
3. Wake and watch, or else thy night
Christ can ne’er enlighten;
Far off still will seem the light
That thy path should brighten;
God demands Eyes and hands
Open for the offers
He so richly proffers.
4. Watch against the devil’s snares
Lest asleep he find thee;
For, indeed, no pains he spares
To deceive and blind thee;
Satan’s prey Oft are they
Who are soundly sleeping
And no good watch keeping.
5. Watch against the world that frowns
Darkly to dismay thee;
Watch when she thy wishes crowns,
Smiling to betray thee;
Watch and see Thou art free
From false friends that charm thee
While they seek to harm thee.
6. Watch against thyself, my soul;
See thou do not stifle
Grace that should thy thoughts control
Nor with mercy trifle.
Pride and sin Lurk within
All thy hopes to scatter;
List not when they flatter.
7. But while watching, also see
That thou pray unceasing;
For the Lord must make thee free,
Strength and faith increasing,
So to do Service true.
Let not sloth enslave thee;
Pray, and He will save thee.
8. Yea, indeed, He bids us pray,
Promising to hear us,
E’er to be our Staff and Stay,
Ever to be near us.
Ere we plead Will He heed,
Strengthen, keep, defend us,
And deliv’rance send us.
9. Courage, then, for all things must
Work for good and bless us,
If we but in prayerful trust
To His Son address us;
For He will Richly fill
And His Spirit send us,
Who to Him commend us.
10. Therefore let us watch and pray
Ever without ceasing,
For we know with every day
Dangers are increasing,
And the end Doth impend;
When the trumpet calleth,
Earth in ruins falleth.

J. B. Freystein, 1704.

382

S. M.

Ye servants of the Lord,
Each in his office wait,
Observant of His heavenly Word
And watchful at His gate.
2. Let all your lamps be bright
And trim the golden flame;
Gird up your loins, as in His sight,
For awful is His name.
3. Watch! ’tis your Lord’s command;
And while we speak, He’s near.
Mark the first signal of His hand
And ready all appear.
4. O happy servant he
In such a posture found!
He shall his Lord with rapture see
And be with honor crowned.

Philip Doddridge, 1755.

RESIGNATION.

383

8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7

Lord, as Thou wilt, deal Thou with me,
No other wish I cherish;
In life and death I cling to Thee,
O Lord, let me not perish!
Let but Thy grace ne’er from me part,
Else as Thou wilt; grant patient heart:
Thy will the best is ever.
2. Grant honor, truth, prosperity,
And love Thy Word to ponder;
False doctrines, Lord, keep far from me
And grant both here and yonder
What serves my everlasting bliss;
Preserve me from unrighteousness
In all my life and doings.
3. When at Thy summons I must leave
This world of sin and sadness,
Grant me Thy grace, Lord, not to grieve,
But to depart with gladness.
My spirit I commend to Thee;
O Lord, a blessed end give me
Through Jesus Christ;—yea. Amen.

C. Melissander, 1574.

384

6s 8 l

Thy way, not mine, O Lord,
However dark it be!
Lead me by Thine own hand,
Choose out my path for me.
I dare not choose my lot;
I would not if I might.
Choose Thou for me, my God,
So shall I walk aright.
2. The kingdom that I seek
Is Thine; so let the way
That leads to it be Thine,
Else I must surely stray.
Take Thou my cup and it
With joy or sorrow fill,
As best to Thee may seem;
Choose Thou my good and ill.
3. Choose Thou for me my friends,
My sickness or my health;
Choose Thou my cares for me,
My poverty or wealth.
Not mine, not mine, the choice,
In things or great or small;
Be Thou my Guide, my Strength,
My Wisdom and my All.

H. Bonar, 1857.

385

6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6

What is the world to me
And all its vaunted pleasure
When Thou, and Thou alone,
Lord Jesus, art my Treasure!
Thou only, dearest Lord,
My soul’s Delight shalt be;
Thou art my Peace, my Rest,—
What is the world to me!
2. The world is like the smoke,
A fleeting exhalation,
A shadow faint and dim,
Of very short duration.
My Jesus doth abide,
Though all things fade and flee;
My everlasting Rock,—
What is the world to me!
3. The world strives to be praised
And honored by the mighty
Nor will at all reflect
How frail they are and flighty.
But what I glory in
Above all things is He,
My Jesus, He alone,—
What is the world to me!
4. The world seeks after wealth,
And unto Mammon offers
Its all, content if gold
Is hoarded in its coffers.
I know a higher good,
Which e’er my joy shall be;
My Jesus is my Wealth,—
What is the world to me!
5. The world is sorely grieved
Whenever it is slighted,
As though an enemy
Its honor would have blighted.
Christ, I bear Thy reproach
While thus it pleaseth Thee!
I’m honored by my Lord,—
What is the world to me!
6. The world cannot extol
Too highly sinful pleasures
And foolishly resigns
For them the heavenly treasures.
Let others love the world
To please their vanity:
I love the Lord, my God,—
What is the world to me!
7. What is the world to me!
It rapidly must vanish;
With all its gorgeous pomp
Pale death it cannot banish;
Its riches pass away,
And all its joys must flee.
But Jesus doth abide,—
What is the world to me!
8. What is the world to me!
My Jesus is my Treasure,
My Life, my Wealth, my All,
My Friend, my Love, my Pleasure,
My heavenly Happiness
And Bliss eternally.
Once more, then, I would say,
What is the world to me!

G. M. Pfefferkorn, 1667; A. Crull, tr.

386

8, 8, 8, 4

My God, my Father, while I stray
Far from my home, on life’s rough way,
O teach me from my heart to say,
“Thy will be done!”
2. Though dark my path and sad my lot,
Let me be still and murmur not.
Or breathe the prayer divinely taught,
“Thy will be done!”
3. What though in lonely grief I sigh
For friends beloved, no longer nigh,
Submissive still would I reply,
“Thy will be done!”
4. Though Thou hast called me to resign
What most I prized, it ne’er was mine;
I have but yielded what was Thine:
“Thy will be done!”
5. Should grief or sickness waste away
My life in premature decay,
My Father, still I strive to say,
“Thy will be done!”
6. Let but my fainting heart be blest
With Thy sweet Spirit for its Guest;
My God, to Thee I leave the rest:
“Thy will be done!”
7. Renew my will from day to day;
Blend it with Thine and take away
All that now makes it hard to say,
“Thy will be done!”
8. Then, when on earth I breathe no more,
The prayer, oft mixed with tears before,
I’ll sing upon a happier shore,
“Thy will be done!”

Charlotte Elliott, 1834.

387

6s 8 l

My Jesus, as Thou wilt!
Oh, may Thy will be mine!
Into Thy hand of love
I would my all resign.
Through sorrow or through joy
Conduct me as Thine own
And help me still to say,
My Lord, Thy will be done.
2. My Jesus, as Thou wilt!
If needy here and poor,
Give me Thy people’s bread,
Their portion rich and sure.
The manna of Thy Word
Let my soul feed upon;
And if all else should fail,
My Lord, Thy will be done.
3. My Jesus, as Thou wilt!
Though seen through many a tear,
Let not my star of hope
Grow dim or disappear,
Since Thou on earth hast wept
And sorrowed oft alone.
If I must weep with Thee,
My Lord, Thy will be done.
4. My Jesus, as Thou wilt!
All shall be well for me;
Each changing future scene
I gladly trust with Thee.
Straight to my home above
I travel calmly on
And sing in life or death,
My Lord, Thy will be done.

B. Schmolck, † 1737; Jane Borthwick, tr., 1854.

388

S. M.

Blest be Thy love, dear Lord,
That taught us this sweet way
Only to love Thee for Thyself
And for that love obey.
2. O Thou, our soul’s chief Hope,
We to Thy mercy fly;
Where’er we are Thou canst protect,
Whate’er we need, supply.
3. Whether we sleep or wake,
To Thee we both resign;
The darkest night is as the day
If Thy light on us shine.
4. Whether we live or die,
Both we submit to Thee;
In death we live, as well as life,
If Thine in death we be.

John Austin, 1668.

389

C. M.

O Lord, my best desire fulfil
And help me to resign
Life, health, and comfort to Thy will
And make Thy pleasure mine.
2. Why should I shrink at Thy command,
Whose love forbids my fears,
Or tremble at the gracious hand
That wipes away my tears?
3. No, rather let me freely yield
What most I prize to Thee,
Who never hast a good withheld,
Nor wilt withhold, from me.
4. Thy favor, all my journey through,
Thou art engaged to grant;
What else I want, or think I do,
’Tis better still to want.

W. Cowper, 1779.