I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth. STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS. JATHER! for Thy kindest word Thankful songs to Thee I sing, Sick at heart with hope deferred, All my cause to Thee I bring. Sweet the sound I hear from Thee, Cast thy burden upon Me. As a father, bending low, So to me Thy pity show, By the world and sin beguiled. Spare me, Thou who lov'st to spare! Let the smoking flax be fanned; Firm my faltering steps uphold; Tried, let me come forth like gold. Oh remember Him who died, With His life my soul to save; Let me clasp the Crucified, Till I reach the awful grave; Then, the light affliction o'er, Heaven is mine forevermore ! I SAID. HEN apple-blossoms in the spring Began their fragrant leaves to shed, And robins twittered on the wing, "T is time to sow my seeds," I said. So, patiently, with care and pains, Will reach them where they lie," I said. "The sun will nurse them, and the dew; And so I left them; day by day, To gentle household duties wed, I went in quiet on my way: "God will take care of them," I said. And now 't is autumn; rich and bright My garden blooms, blue, white, and red; A loyal show! a regal sight! And all is even as I said. My faithless heart! the lesson heed; "T is spring-time yet; behold, the years Roll grandly in, God overhead, When Thou shalt say, "Oh, bootless fears! Lo! all is even as He said." THE COMPASS. HOU art, O God, my East! In Thee Within me ever let Thy day-spring shine! Then for each night of sorrow I have mourned, I'll bless Thee, Father, since it seals me Thine. Thou art, O God, my North! My trembling soul, Like a charmed needle, points to Thee alone; Each wave of time, each storm of life, shall roll My trusting spirit forward to Thy throne. Thou art, O God, my South! Thy fervent love Perennial verdure o'er my life hath shed, And constant sunshine from Thy heart of love, With wine and oil Thy grateful child hath fed. Thou art, O God, my West! Into Thy arms, Glad as the setting sun, may I decline; Baptized from earthly storms and sin's alarms, Re-born, arise in Thy new heavens to shine. |