When trouble, like a gloomy cloud,
Her mantle round us flings,
Faith then delights to upward soar,
On Mercy’s golden wings;
In quiet trust she takes her seat
On God’s eternal throne;
And, peaceful, gazes on the face,
Of His beloved Son.
How sweet to know all power is His,
In heaven, as on earth,
A Father’s love marks out the path
For all of heavenly birth;
Both “grace and glory” will He give,
And naught of good withhold;
To those who are upright of heart,
His ways He will unfold.
He calls us “friends”; and though at times
The way to us seems rough,
His outstretched arms;
His ceaseless grace,
Will surely prove enough;
The trial is to test our faith,
That it may brighter shine,
The dross from off the gold to purge,
Such is His way divine!
Then let us not hang down our heads,
But sing for evermore,
Of Him who knows our every need,
And worship and adore;
As a “Refiner” still He sits,
And cannot be unkind,
Thus Faith her daily lesson learns,
And understands His mind.
Lord! all Thy ways are ways of love,
For Thou art still the same,
Jesus, the Christ, God’s Holy One,
All glory to Thy Name;
Oh! for a heart to do Thy will,
In these declining days,
To rise above earth’s fleeting dreams,
And walk in “Wisdom’s” ways.