What strange lessons I am every day learning!
Thank God for them. They are very unpleasant
to human nature, but they are leading me to place
less confidence in earthly love and more in heavenly.
I have leaned too much upon an arm of flesh, and it
is right I should suffer for it. Sweet Saviour,
fold me in thine arms; comfort me with thy love; and
as soon as thou seest best let me go and live with
thee forever.
All earthly hopes have passed away,
Stay with me, O my Saviour, stay:
Thy blessed smile is all the light
That breaks upon my dismal night.
I cling to thee—thou must not go;
Oh, let me tell thee every woe
And whisper in thy ready ear
What other friends would frown to hear.
Distressed in body and in mind,
Diseased and wretched, poor and blind,
I only care to see thy face,—
I only sigh for thy embrace.
I droop, I faint beneath the rod,
It is so heavy, O my God!
Spare me, I cry, in mercy spare—
But thou refusest still the prayer!
Sometimes I murmur and repine,
Prefer my stubborn will to thine,
And doubt if love or anger deal
The dreadful anguish that I feel.
Then suddenly before me stands,—
With bleeding side, and feet, and hands,—
The Lamb that groaned and died for me,
That I might live eternally.
Such love o’erwhelms me, and with shame
I call upon thy holy name;
Forgive me, O thou blessed One,
And let thy will, not mine, be done.
O my Redeemer, Friend and Guide,
Take health, take what thou wilt beside,
But let me see the lovely face
That makes a heaven of every place.
Nay, turn not from my earnest prayer!
Thy smile can save me from despair;
The shadows deepen round my way,
Stay with me, O my Saviour, stay.
Who save thee, O God, knoweth the human heart?
Pity me, for thy rod is heavy. My earthly hopes
are all torn and crushed,—oh, may they turn
heaven-ward and there find support and nourishment.
This is Father’s discipline, shall I murmur?
Nay, but rather rejoice that he does not leave me
to myself but deals with me as a child—chastening,
rebuking, scourging and refining: preparing me
by all these afflictions for the “rest that
remaineth for the people of God.” And sweet
the rest will be after such a weary journey!
How I shall fold my hands upon the bosom that shall
never again be troubled, and say in all sincerity:
I thank thee, O God, for the sweet that was mingled
in my earthly cup, but more do I thank thee for the
bitter.
“In early life I’m called to part
With all I hold so dear;
Strong tendrils bind my yearning heart,
But cannot keep me here.
“I am resigned; yet tears will fall,
Sad thoughts steal over me;
And dost thou know that with them all
Are mingling thoughts of thee?
