1 When I survey life's varied scene,Amid the darkest hours,
Sweet rays of comfort shine between,
And thorns are mixed with flowers.
2 Are health and ease my happy share?
O may I bless my God!
Thy kindness let my songs declare,
And spread Thy praise abroad.
3 While such delightful gifts as these
Are kindly dealt to me,
Be all my hours of health and ease
Devoted, Lord, to Thee.
4 And O, whate'er of earthly bliss
Thy sovereign hand denies,
Accepted at Thy throne of grace,
Let this petition rise;-
5 Give me a calm, a thankful heart,
From every murmur free;
The blessings of Thy grace impart,
And make me live to Thee!
1 When darkness long has veiled my mind,
And smiling day once more appears;
Then, gracious Father, then I find
The follies of my doubts and fears.
2 Straight I upbraid my wandering heart, And blush that I should ever be
Thus prone to act so base a part,
Or harbour one hard thought of Thee.
3 O let me then at length be taught,
What I am still so slow to learn;
That God is love, and changes not,
Nor knows the shadow of a turn.
4 Sweet truth, and easy to repeat!
But when my faith is sharply tried,
I find myself a learner yet,
Unskilful, weak, and apt to slide.
5 But, O my Lord, one look from Thee
Subdues the disobedient will;
Drives doubt and discontent away,
And Thy rebellious child is still.
1 Thou very present Aid,
In suffering and distress;
The soul which still on Thee is stayed Is kept in perfect peace:
That soul, by faith reclined
On Thy paternal breast,
'Midst raging storms exults to find
An everlasting rest.
2 Peace to the troubled heart,
Health to the sin-sick mind,
The wounded spirit's balm Thou art,
The Healer of mankind!
In deep affliction, blest
With Thee, I mount above,
And sing, triumphantly distrest,
Thy all-sufficient love.
My God, to whom I fly,
Doth all my wishes fill;
In vain the creature streams are dry,
I have the fountain still;
Stript of my earthly friends,
I find them all in One,
And peace, and joy that never ends,
And Heaven in God alone.
1 While some in folly's pleasures roll,
And seek the joys which hurt the soul;
Be mine that silent calm repast,
A peaceful conscience to the last:
2 That tree which bears immortal fruit, Without a canker at the root;
That friend who never fails the just, When other friends desert their trust.
3 With this companion in the shade
My soul no more shall be dismayed;
I will defy the midnight gloom,
And the pale monarch of the tomb.
4 Though Heaven afflict, I'll not repine; The noblest comforts still are mine; Comforts which shall o'er death prevail, And journey with me through the vale.
5 Amidst the various scenes of ills,
Each stroke some kind design fulfils;
And shall I murmur at my God
When sovereign love directs the rod?
6 His hand will smooth my rugged way,
And lead me to the realms of day;
To milder skies and brighter plains,
Where everlasting pleasure reigns.
1 Quiet, Lord, my froward heart,
Make me teachable and mild;
Upright, simple, free from art,
Make me as a weaned child;
From distrust and envy free,
Pleased with all that pleaseth Thee.
2 What Thou shalt to-day provide,
Let me as a child receive;
What to-morrow may betide,
Calmly to Thy wisdom leave:
'T is enough that Thou wilt care;
Why should I the burden bear?
3 As a little child relies
On a care beyond his own;
Knows he 's neither strong nor wise ;
Fears to stir a step alone;
Let me thus with Thee abide,
As my Father, Guard, and Guide.
4 Thus preserved from faithless wiles,
Safe from dangers, free from fears,
May I live upon Thy smiles,
Till the promised hour appears,
When the sons of God shall prove
All their Father's boundless love!
10 Thou, by long experience tried,
Near whom no grief can long abide ;·
My Lord, how full of sweet content
My years of pilgrimage are spent!
2 All scenes alike engaging prove,
To souls impressed with sacred love;
Where'er they dwell, they dwell in Thee,
In heaven, in earth, or on the sea.
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