Go not far from me, O my strength,
Whom all my times obey.
Take from me-anything Thou wilt,
But go not Thou away.
So let the storm that bears me home,
Deal with me as it may.
On Thy compassion I repose,
In weakness and distress;
I will not ask for greater ease,
Lest I should love Thee less.
Oh! 'tis a blessed thing for me,
To NEED Thy tenderness.
Thy love hath many a hidden path,
No outward eye can trace;
And, through the darkest night, my heart
Leaps to behold Thy face;
And communes with Thee 'mid the storm,
As in a quiet place.
0 Comforter of God's redeemed,
Whom the world does not see,
I wish not to avoid the flood
That casts my soul on Thee.
Who would not suffer pain like mine,
To be consoled like me?
When I am feeble, as a child,
And flesh and heart give way,
Then, on Thine everlasting strength,
With passive trust I stay;
And the rough wind becomes a song,
The darkness shines like day.
It is not hard to bear, in faith,
In Thine own bosom laid,
The trial of a soul redeemed,
For thy rejoicing made.
Well may the heart in patience rest,
That none can make afraid,
" Deep unto deep" may call, but I
With peaceful heart will say,
Thy lovingkindness has a charge
No wave can take away.
So let the storm that speeds me home,
Deal with me as it may.
A. L. W.