CROSS AND COMFORT.

494

8, 7, 8 l

Whate’er God will, let that be done;
His will is ever wisest;
His grace will all thy hope outrun
Who to that faith arisest.
The gracious Lord Will help afford,
He chastens with forbearing;
Who God believes And to Him cleaves,
Shall not be left despairing.
2. My God is my sure Confidence,
My Hope, and my Existence;
His counsel is beyond my sense,
Yet I’ll not make resistance.
His Word declares The very hairs
Upon my head are numbered;
His mercy large Holds me in charge,
With care that never slumbered.
3. The time has come when at His will
My life in this world ceases;
I think upon it and am still,
Let come whate’er He pleases.
To Him I trust My soul, my dust,
When flesh and spirit sever;
The Christ we sing Has plucked the sting
Away from death forever.
4. Yet one thing, Lord, I ask of Thee,
O grant my supplication:
When Satan sorely tempteth me,
Save me from desperation.
O God, my Lord, True to Thy Word,
Do Thou my soul deliver!
Who doth believe, He shall receive.
Thy name be praised forever!

Anon., 1554; N. L. Frothingham, tr., a.

495

8, 8, 7, 8, 7

In Thee, Lord, have I put my trust,
Leave me not helpless in the dust,
Let me not be confounded;
Let in Thy Word My faith, O Lord,
Be always firmly grounded.
2. Bow down Thy gracious ear to me
And hear my prayers, Lord, speedily,
O grant me Thy protection!
For woes and fear Surround me here;
Help me in my affliction.
3. My God and Shield, now let Thy power
Be unto me a mighty tower,
Whence bravely I defend me
Against the foes That round me close;
O Lord, assistance lend me!
4. Thy Word hath said, Thou art my Rock,
The Fortress that can fear no shock,
My Help, my Life, my Treasure;
Howe’er distress And dangers press,
All must perform Thy pleasure.
5. The world for me has falsely set
Full many a secret snare and net,
Dark lies, and sore temptations.
Lord, hear my prayers And break these snares
And hellish machinations.
6. With Thee, Lord, would I cast my lot;
My God, my God, forsake me not;
For, Lord, I am commending
My soul to Thee; Deliver me
Now and when life is ending.
7. All honor, praise, and majesty
To Father, Son, and Spirit be,
Our God forever glorious,
In whose rich grace We’ll run our race
Till we depart victorious.

Ps. 31. Adam Reusner, 1533; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

496

C. M.

Lord, it belongs not to my care,
Whether I die or live;
To love and serve Thee is my share,
And this Thy grace must give.
2. If life be long, I will be glad
That I may long obey;
If short, yet why should I be sad
To soar to endless day?
3. Christ leads me through no darker rooms
Than He went through before;
He that into God’s kingdom comes
Must enter by this door.
4. Come, Lord, when grace has made me meet
Thy blessed face to see;
For if Thy work on earth is sweet,
What will Thy glory be?
5. Then shall I end my sad complaints
And weary, sinful days
And join with the triumphant saints
That sing Jehovah’s praise.
6. My knowledge of that life is small,
The eye of faith is dim;
But ’tis enough that Christ knows all
And I shall be with Him.

Richard Baxter, 1681, a.

497

C. M.

O Thou, from whom all goodness flows,
I lift my heart to Thee;
In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes,
Dear Lord, remember me!
2. When on my aching, burdened heart
My sins lie heavily,
My pardon speak, new peace impart;
In love remember me.
3. Temptations sore obstruct my way,
And ills I cannot flee.
O give me strength, Lord, as my day;
For good remember me.
4. Distressed with pain, disease, and grief,
This feeble body see;
Grant patience, rest, and kind relief;
Hear and remember me!
5. When in the solemn hour of death
I wait Thy just decree,
Be this the prayer of my last breath,
Good Lord, remember me!
6. And when before Thy throne I stand
And lift my soul to Thee,
Then with the saints at Thy right hand,
Good Lord, remember me!

Thomas Haweis and Thomas Cotterill, 1792, a.

498

9, 8, 9, 8, 8, 8

If thou but suffer God to guide thee
And hope in Him through all thy ways,
He’ll give thee strength, whate’er betide thee,
And bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the Rock that naught can move.
2. What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help if thou bewail thee
O’er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.
3. Be patient and await His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content,
To take whate’er thy Father’s pleasure
And His discerning love hath sent,
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.
4. He knows the time for joy and, truly,
Will send it when He sees it meet;
When He has tried and purged thee duly
And finds thee free from all deceit,
He comes to thee all unaware
And makes thee own His loving care.
5. Nor think amid the heat of trial
That God hath cast thee off unheard;
That he whose hopes meet no denial
Must surely be of God preferred;
Time passes and much change doth bring
And sets a bound to everything.
6. All are alike before the Highest;
’Tis easy to our God, we know,
To raise thee up, though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low.
True wonders still by Him are wrought
Who setteth up and brings to naught.
7. Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving;
So do thine own part faithfully
And trust His Word, though undeserving,
Thou yet shalt find it true for thee.
God never will forsake in need
The soul that trusts in Him indeed.

Ps. 55, 23. George Neumark, 1657; C. Winkworth, tr.

499

9, 8, 9, 8, 8, 8

I leave all things to God’s direction,
He loveth me in weal and woe;
His will is good, true His affection,
With tender love His heart doth glow.
My Fortress and my Rock is He:
What pleaseth God, that pleaseth me.
2. My God hath all things in His keeping,
He is the ever faithful Friend;
He grants me laughter after weeping,
And all His ways in blessings end.
His love endures eternally:
What pleaseth God, that pleaseth me.
3. The will of God shall be my pleasure
While here on earth is mine abode;
My will is wrong beyond all measure,
It doth not will what pleaseth God.
The Christian’s maxim e’er must be:
What pleaseth God, that pleaseth me.
4. God knows what must be done to save me,
His love for me will never cease;
For He upon His palms did grave me
With purest gold of loving grace.
Away, my own will, off with thee!
What pleaseth God, that pleaseth me.
5. My God desires the soul’s salvation,
Me also He desires to save;
Therefore, with Christian resignation,
All earthly troubles I will brave.
His will be done eternally:
What pleaseth God, that pleaseth me.

Anon., 17th cent.; A. Crull, tr.

500

7s

Oft in sorrow, oft in woe,
Onward, Christians, onward go!
Bear the toil, maintain the strife,
Strengthened with the Bread of Life.
2. Let not sorrow dim your eye;
Soon shall every tear be dry.
Let not woe your course impede;
Great your help if great your need.
3. Let your drooping hearts be glad;
March, in heavenly armor clad.
Fight, nor think the battle long;
Victory soon shall tune your song.
4. Onward, then, to battle move!
More than conquerors you shall prove;
Though begirt with many a foe,
Onward, Christians, onward go!

H. K. White, 1806, a.

501

8, 6, 6, 8, 6, 6

Why should sorrow ever grieve me;
Christ is near, What can here
E’er of Him deprive me?
Who can rob me of my heaven
That God’s Son As my own
To my faith hath given?
2. Naked was I and unswathèd
When on earth At my birth
My first breath I breathèd.
Naked hence shall I betake me
When I go From earth’s woe
And my breath forsakes me.
3. Naught—not e’en the life I’m living—
Is my own, God alone
All to me is giving.
Must I, then, His own restore Him?
Though bereft Of each gift,
Still shall I adore Him.
4. Though a heavy cross I’m bearing
And my heart Feels the smart,
Shall I be despairing?
God can help me, who doth send it;
He doth know All my woe
And how best to end it.
5. God oft gives me days of gladness;
Shall I grieve If He give
Seasons, too, of sadness?
God is good and tempers ever
Every hurt; Me desert
Wholly can He never.
6. Though united world and devil,
All their power Can no more
Do than mock and cavil.
Let derision now employ them,
Christ e’en here Will appear
And ’fore all destroy them.
7. True believers, shrinking never,
Where they dwell, Should reveal
Their true colors ever.
When approaching death would scare them,
Still should they Patient stay
And with courage bear them.
8. Death can never kill us even,
But relief From all grief
To us then is given.
It doth close life’s mournful story,
Makes a way That we may
Pass to heavenly glory.
9. There I’ll reap enduring pleasure,
After woe Here below
Suffered in large measure.
Lasting good we find here never,
All the earth Deemeth worth
Vanisheth forever.
10. What is all this life possesseth?
But a hand Full of sand
That the heart distresseth.
Noble gifts that pall me never
Christ so free There gives me
To enjoy forever.
11. Lord, Thou Fount of joy forever,
Thou art mine, I am Thine,
No one can us sever.
I am Thine, because Thou gavest
Life and blood For my good,
By Thy death me savest.
12. Thou art mine, I love and own Thee,
Ne’er shall I, Light of joy,
From my heart dethrone Thee.
Let me, let me, soon behold Thee
Face to face,—Thy embrace,
May it soon enfold me!

Paul Gerhardt, 1653; J. Kelly, tr., a.

502

C. M.

Dear Refuge of my weary soul,
On Thee, when sorrows rise,
On Thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting hope relies.
2. To Thee I tell each rising grief,
For Thou alone canst heal;
Thy Word can bring a sweet relief
For every pain I feel.
3. Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face?
And shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of pardoning grace
Be deaf when I complain?
4. No, still the ear of saving grace
Attends the mourner’s prayer;
O may I ever find access
To breathe my sorrows there!

Anne Steele, 1760.

503

L. M.

O God, my days are dark indeed,
How oft this aching heart must bleed;
The narrow way,—how filled with pain,
That I must pass, ere heaven I gain!
2. How hard to teach this flesh and blood
To seek alone th’ eternal God!
Ah! whither now for comfort turn?
For Thee, my Jesus, do I yearn.
3. In Thee have I, howe’er distrest,
Found ever counsel, aid, and rest!
I cannot all forsaken be
While still my heart can trust in Thee.
4. Thine office and Thy person show
That Thou great miracles canst do;
Miraculous was, Lord, Thy birth
When Thou wert born a child on earth.
5. And by Thy death Thou mak’st me free
So strangely from all misery.
Jesus, my only God and Lord,
What sweetness in Thy name is stored!
6. No grief can ever be so sore
But Thy sweet name can cheer me more;
So keen no sorrow’s rankling dart
But Thy sweet name can heal my heart.
7. Although my flesh and heart may fail,
I’ll heed it not, I shall not quail;
My Savior, if I have but Thee,
I shall be blest eternally.
8. With heart and soul I’m Thine fore’er;
Sin, death, and hell I need not fear;
The world can show no truth like Thine,
And therefore will I not repine.
9. I know Thou wilt forsake me not,
Thy truth is fixed, though dark my lot;
Thou art my Shepherd, and Thy sheep
From harm forever Thou wilt keep.
10. Jesus, my Boast, my Light, my Joy,
The Treasure naught can e’er destroy,
No words, no song that I can frame
Speak half the sweetness of Thy name.
11. They only all its power shall prove
Whose hearts have learned Thy faith and love;
How many a time I’ve sadly said,
Far better were it I were dead;
12. Far better ne’er the light to see
If I had not this joy in Thee;
For he who hath not Thee in faith,
His very life is merely death.
13. Jesus, my Bridegroom and my Crown,
If Thou but smile, the world may frown;
In Thee lie depths of joy untold,
Far richer than the richest gold.
14. Whenever I but think of Thee,
Thy dews drop down and solace me;
Whene’er I hope in Thee, my Friend,
Thy comfort and Thy peace descend.
15. Whene’er in grief I pray and sing,
I feel new courage in me spring;
Thy Spirit witnesses that this
Is foretaste of eternal bliss.
16. Therefore, while life remains in me,
I’ll bear Thy cross and follow Thee.
Grant me a patient, willing mood;
I know that it shall work my good.
17. Help me to do my task aright,
That it may stand before Thy sight;
Let me this flesh and blood control,
From sin and shame preserve my soul.
18. O keep me steadfast in the faith,
Then I am Thine in life and death.
Jesus, my Comfort, bend to me;
Ah, would I were e’en now with Thee!

Conrad Hojer, 1597.

504

S. M.

In weariness and pain,
By sins and fears opprest,
I turn me to my Rest again,
My soul’s eternal Rest.
2. The Lamb that died for me
And still my load doth bear;
To Jesus’ streaming wounds I flee
And find my quiet there.
3. Jesus, was ever grief,
Was ever love, like Thine?
Thy sorrow, Lord, is my relief,
Thy life hath ransomed mine.
4. O may I rise with Thee
And soar to things above
And spend a blest eternity
In praise of dying love!

Charles Wesley, 1749, a.

505

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

Zion mourns in fear and anguish,
Zion, city of our God.
“Ah!” she saith, “how sore I languish,
Bowed beneath so hard a load!
God hath now forsook me quite
And forgot my evil plight.”
Nay, the Lord, who chose thee, spares thee,
For within His heart He bears thee.
2. “Once,” she mourns, “He promised plainly
That His help should aye be near,
Yet I now must seek Him vainly
In my days of woe and fear.
Will He, then, forevermore
Keep His anger and no more
Help His chosen generation
In its present tribulation?”
3. “Zion, surely I have loved thee!”
Thus to her the Highest saith.
“Although many woes have proved thee
And thy soul is sad to death,
Yet now cast thy griefs behind;
Where wilt thou a mother find
For her own child not providing
Or in hatred with it chiding?
4. “And if thou couldst find a mother
Who forgot her infant’s claim
Or whose wrath her love could smother,
Yet would I be still the same;
For My truth is pledged to thee,
Zion, thou art dear to Me;
I within My heart have set thee,
And I never can forget thee.
5. “Let not Satan make thee craven;
He can fight, but cannot harm.
On My hands thy name is graven,
And thy shield is still My arm.
How, then, could it ever be
That I failed to think of thee,
Build the wall of My own city
And look down on thee with pity?
6. “Thou before My eyes art ever,
In My bosom thou art laid
As a nursing child, and never
Shalt thou lack My timely aid.
Me and thee no time nor stress,
War, nor danger, nor distress,
No, nor Satan’s self shall sever,—
Only be thou faithful ever.”

J. Heermann, 1636; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

506

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

Let not such a thought e’er pain thee
As that thou art cast away,
But within God’s Word restrain thee,
That far otherwise doth say.
E’en though thou unrighteous art,
True and faithful is God’s heart.
Hast thou death deserved forever?
God’s appeased, despond thou never!
2. Thou art, as is every other,
Tainted by the poison sin,
That the Serpent and our father
Adam, by the Fall, brought in.
But if God’s voice thou dost hear,
“Turn to Me, do good,” ne’er fear,
Be of good cheer, He thy yearning
Will regard, thy prayer ne’er spurning.
3. He is not a bear or lion
Thirsting only for thy blood,
Faithful is thy God in Zion,
Gentle ever is His mood.
God aye as a Father feels,
He’s afflicted by our ills;
Our misfortune sorrow gives Him,
And our dying ever grieves Him.
4. “Truly,” saith He, “as I’m living,
I the death of none desire,
But that men, themselves upgiving,
May be rescued from sin’s mire.”
When a prodigal returns,
God’s heart then with rapture burns,
Wills that not the least one even
Ever from His flock be driven.
5. Shepherd was so faithful never,
Seeking sheep that go astray.
Couldest thou God’s heart see ever
How He cares for them alway,
How it thirsts and sighs and burns
After him who from Him turns,
From His people’s midst doth wander,
Love would make thee weep and ponder.
6. God the good not only loveth,
Those who in His house now dwell,
But His heart compassion moveth
For those whom the Prince of hell
Hath enslaved, the cruel foe,
Who men’s hearts with hate to glow
Makes ’gainst Him, who when He ever
Moves His foot, can make earth quiver.
7. Deep His love and most enduring,
His desire is ever great;
He is calling and alluring
Us to enter heaven’s gate.
When they come, whoe’er they be,
Seeking now that liberty
From the devil’s fangs be given,
Glad are all the hosts of heaven.
8. God and all those with Him dwelling,
’Fore whom heaven must hush its voice
When their Maker’s praise forth telling,
O’er our penitence rejoice;
But what has been done amiss
Covered now and buried is,
All offense to Him we’ve given,—
All, yea all, is now forgiven.
9. From no lake so much is gushing,
No depth is so deep at all,
With such force no stream is rushing,
All compared with God is small;
Naught is like His grace so great,
That remits our mighty debt,
That He ever throweth over
All our lives e’en as a cover.
10. Soul, why art thou sad and dreary?
Rest now and contented be!
Why wilt thou thyself so weary
When there is no need for thee?
Though thy sins appear to thee
Like a vast and shoreless sea,
If with God’s heart thou compare them,
’Twill a trifle seem to bear them.
11. Could we myriad worlds discover,
All sunk in apostasy,
Had the sins there o’er and over
Every one been done by thee,
Oh! still there were less by far
Than the light of grace so clear
Could on earth extinguish ever,
God from greater could deliver.
12. Of such wondrous love and favor
Open wide the door to me;
Everywhere and aye, my Savior,
Tasted be Thy grace by me.
Love me, Lord, and let me be
Nearer ever drawn to Thee
That I may embrace and love Thee,
Nevermore to anger move Thee.

Paul Gerhardt, 1653; J. Kelly, tr.

507

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

Whatever God ordains is good!
His righteous will abideth;
I will be still whate’er He doth
And follow where He guideth.
He is my God; Though dark my road,
He knoweth how to shield me,
Wherefore to Him I yield me.
2. Whatever God ordains is good!
He never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path,
I know He will not leave me,
And take content What He hath sent;
His hand that sends my sadness
Will turn my tears to gladness.
3. Whatever God ordains is good!
His loving thought attends me;
No poisoned draught the cup can be
That my Physician sends me,
But medicine; God true has been.
Of doubt, then, I’ll divest me
And on His goodness rest me.
4. Whatever God ordains is good!
My Life, my Light, can never
Intend me harm; then, to His care
I give myself forever
In weal or woe; For well I know
Some day I shall see clearly
That God did love me dearly.
5. Whatever God ordains is good!
Though now this cup in drinking
May bitter to my taste appear
I take it all unshrinking;
For to my heart God will impart
A timely balm of healing
And end each painful feeling.
6. Whatever God ordains is good!
Here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet am I not forsaken;
My Father’s care Is round me there,
His arms embrace and shield me;
Then to my God I yield me.

Samuel Rodigast, 1675; C. Winkworth, 1863, a.

508

6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7

In God, my faithful God,
I trust when dark my road;
Though many woes o’ertake me,
Yet He will not forsake me;
His love it is doth send them
And, when ’tis best, will end them.
2. My sins assail me sore,
But I despair no more.
I build on Christ, who loves me;
From this Rock nothing moves me.
To Him I all surrender,
To Him, my soul’s Defender.
3. If death my portion be,
Then death is gain to me,
And Christ my Life forever,
From whom death cannot sever;
Come when it may, He’ll shield me,
To Him I wholly yield me.
4. O Jesus Christ, my Lord,
So meek in deed and word,
Thou once didst die to save us,
Because Thou fain wouldst have us
After this life of sadness
The heirs of heavenly gladness.
5. “So be it,” then I say
With all my heart each day.
We, too, dear Lord, adore Thee,
We sing for joy before Thee.
Guide us while here we wander
Till safely landed yonder.

S. Weingaertner, 1607; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

509

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