His steps where’er he goes;
Though none can see him but his friends,
And they were once his foes.
IV
He speaks—obedient to his call
Our warm affections move;
Did he but shine alike on all,
Then all alike would love.
V
Then love in every heart would reign,
And war would cease to roar;
And cruel and blood-thirsty men
Would thirst for blood no more.
VI
Such Jesus is, and such his grace,
Oh may it shine on you!
And tell him, when you see his face,
I long to see him too.
14
Rest for Weary Souls
By Newton
I
Does the gospel-word proclaim
Rest for those who weary be?
Then my soul put in thy claim,
Sure that promise speaks to thee:
Marks of grace I cannot show,
All polluted is my best;
Yet I weary am, I know,
And the weary long for rest.
II
Burden’d with a load of sin,
Harass’d with tormenting doubt,
Hourly conflicts from within,
Hourly crosses from without:
All my little strength is gone,
Sink I must without supply;
Sure upon the earth is none
Can more weary be than I.
III
In the ark the weary dove
Found a welcome resting-place;
Thus my spirit longs to prove
Rest in Christ, the ark of grace:
Tempest-toss’d I long have been,
And the flood increases fast,
Open, Lord, and take me in
Till the storm be overpast.
IV
Safely lodged within thy breast,
What a wondrous change I find!
Now I know thy promised rest
Can compose a troubled mind.
You that weary are like me;
Hearken to the gospel call,
To the ark for refuge flee,
Jesus will receive you all!28
III
Conflict
15
Light Shining Out of Darkness
By Cowper
I
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea.
And rides upon the storm.
II
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.
III
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread,
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
IV
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace:
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
V
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
VI
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.
16
Welcome Cross
By Cowper
I
’Tis my happiness below
Not to live without the cross,
But the Saviour’s pow’r to know,
Sanctifying every loss.
Trials must and will befall;
But with humble faith to see
Love inscribed upon them all,
This is happiness to me.
II
God in Isr’el sows the seeds
Of affliction, pain, and toil:
These spring up and choak the weeds
Which would else o’erspread the soil.
Trials make the promise sweet;
Trials give new life to pray’r;
Trials bring me to his feet,
Lay me low and keep me there.
III
Did I meet no trials here,
No chastisement by the way,
Might I not with reason fear,
I should prove a cast-away?
Bastards may escape the rod,
Sunk in earthly vain delight;
But the true-born child of God
Must not, would not, if he might.
17
Afflictions Sanctified by the Word
By Cowper
I
O how I love thy holy word,
Thy gracious covenant, Lord!
It guides me in the peaceful way,
I think upon it all the day.
II
What are the mines of shining wealth,
The strength of youth, the bloom of health;
What are all joys compared with those
Thine everlasting word bestows?
III
Long unafflicted, undismay’d,
In pleasure’s path secure I stray’d;
Thou madest me feel thy chast’ning rod,
And straight I turn’d unto my God.
IV
What though it pierced my fainting heart,
I bless’d thine hand that caused the smart!
It taught my tears awhile to flow,
But saved me from eternal woe.
V
Oh! hadst thou left me unchastised,
Thy precept I had still despised;
And still the snare in secret laid
Had my unwary feet betray’d.
VI
I love thee, therefore, my God,
And breathe towards thy dear abode.
Where in thy presence fully bless’d,
Thy chosen saints for ever rest.
18
Temptation
By Cowper
I
The billows swell, the winds are high,
Clouds overcast my wintry sky:
Out of the depths to thee I call,
My fears are great, my strength is small.
II
Lord, the pilot’s part perform,
And guide and guard me through the storm;
Defend me from each threat’ning ill,
Control the waves, say—“Peace, be still!”
III
Amidst the roaring of the sea,
My soul still hangs her hopes on thee:
Thy constant love, thy faithful care,
Is all that saves me from despair.
IV
Dangers of every shape and name
Attend the foll’wers of the Lamb,
Who leave the world’s deceitful shore,
And leave it to return no more.
V
Though tempest-toss’d and half a wreck,
My Saviour through the floods I seek;
Let neither winds nor stormy main
Force back my shatter’d bark again.
19
Looking Upwards in a Storm
By Cowper
I
God of my life, to thee I call,
Afflicted at thy feet I fall;
When the great water-floods prevail,
Leave not my trembling heart to fail!
II
Friend of the friendless and the faint,
Where should I lodge my deep complaint?
Where but with thee, whose open door
Invites the helpless and the poor?
III
Did ever mourner plead with thee,
And thou refuse that mourner’s plea?
Does not the word still fix’d remain
That none shall seek thy face in vain?
IV
That were a grief I could not bear,
Didst thou not hear and answer pray’r;
But a pray’r-hearing, answ’ring God,
Supports me under every load.
V
Fair is the lot that’s cast for me,
I have an Advocate with thee:
They whom the world caresses most
Have no such privilege to boast.
VI
Poor though I am, despised, forgot,
Yet God, my God, forgets me not;
And he is safe and must succeed,
For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead.
20
The Valley of the Shadow of Death
By Cowper
I
My soul
