FOR EVER WITH THE LORD.

OR ever with the Lord!

FOR

Amen! so let it be !

Life from the dead is in that word,

And immortality.

Here in the body pent,

Absent from Him I roam,

Yet nightly pitch my moving tent
A day's march nearer home.

My Father's house on high,
Home of my soul ! how near,
At times, to faith's foreseeing eye,
Thy golden gates appear!

Yet clouds will intervene,
And all my prospect flies,
Like Noah's dove, I flit between
Rough seas and stormy skies.

Anon the clouds depart,

The winds and waters cease,

While sweetly o'er my gladdened heart Expands the bow of peace!

Beneath its glowing arch, Along the hallowed ground, I see cherubic armies march, A camp of fire around.

I hear at morn and even,
At noon and midnight hour,
The choral harmonies of heaven
Earth's Babel tongues o'erpower.

Then, then I feel that He,
Remembered or forgot,

The Lord, is never far from me,
Though I perceive Him not.

For ever with the Lord!
Father, if 'tis Thy will,

The promise of that gracious word,

E'en here, to me fulfil.

Be Thou at my right hand,

Then shall I never fail ;

Uphold me, and I needs must stand;

Fight, and I shall prevail.

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

REDEMPTION FOUND.

ATHER! Thine everlasting grace

FA

Our scanty thought surpasses far;

Thy heart is full of tenderness,

Thy arms of love still open are Returning sinners to receive,

That mercy they may taste, and live.

Though waves and storms go o'er my head,

Though strength and health and friends be gone,

Though joys be withered all, and dead,

Though every comfort be withdrawn,

On this my steadfast soul relies,
Father! Thy mercy never dies.

Fixed on this ground will I remain,
Though my heart fail and flesh decay;
This anchor shall my soul sustain,

When earth's foundations melt away;
Mercy's full power I then shall prove,
Loved with an everlasting love.

JOHANN ANDREAS ROTHE. 1728.
Tr. by JOHN WESLEY. 1740.

Submission in Sorrow.

W

PEACE IN TROUBLE.

HAT within me and without

Hourly on my spirit weighs,
Burdening heart and soul with doubt,
Darkening all my weary days:
In it I behold Thy will,

God, who givest rest and peace,
And my heart is calm and still,
Waiting till Thou send release.

When my trials tarry long,

Unto Thee I look and wait,
Knowing none, though keen and strong,
Can my faith in Thee abate.
O my soul, why art thou vexed?
Let things go e'en as they will;
Though to thee they seem perplexed,
Yet His order they fulfil.

A. H. FRANCKE. 1663-1727.

THE QUIET HOPING HEART.

WH

7HATE'ER my God ordains is right, His will is ever just ;

Howe'er He order now my cause,

I will be still and trust.
He is my God;

Though dark my road,

He holds me that I shall not fall,
Wherefore to Him I leave it all.

Whate'er my God ordains is right,
Though I the cup must drink
That bitter seems to my faint heart,
I will not fear nor shrink;

Tears pass away

With dawn of day,

Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
And pain and sorrow shall depart.

Whate'er my God ordains is right,
My Light, my Life is He,
Who cannot will me aught but good,
I trust Him utterly;

For well I know,

In joy or woe,

We soon shall see as sunlight clear
How faithful was our Guardian here.