Look up, my soul, to Christ thy joy,
With a believing mind:
With all the ills which thee annoy,
The way to Jesus find:
Here in this world thou hast no home,
Nor lasting joy; to Jesus come,
He is the pearl of greatest price,
Who all thy wants supplies.
2 Steadfast in faith to Jesus cleave,
His faithfulness review,
And every burden with him leave,
Whose love is daily new;
ways with thee are just and right,
He puts thy enemies to flight,
However threatening they appear;
Take courage,
he is near.
3 Thy closet enter, pray, and sigh,
To Jesus tell thy grief;
His ear is open to thy cry,
His hands to give relief;
Though men forsake thee, hate and grieve,
Thy Saviour thee will never leave,
His word is passed, he'll aid afford;
Rely upon the Lord.
4 Lift up thy heart to him on high,
And leave this sordid earth;
Behold with a believing eye
God's excellence and worth;
Devote thy life, thy all to him,
Who did thy soul from death redeem,
In love to thee the cross endured,
And life for thee procured.
5 Arise and seek the things above;
Let heaven be all thy aim,
Where Jesus dwells in bliss and love,
And earth and sin disclaim;
The world and all its empty joy
His potent breath will once destroy;
Abiding rest and peace of mind
In Christ alone we find.
SINCE we can't doubt God's equal love,
Immeasurably kind,
To his unerring, gracious will
Be every wish resigned.
2 Good, when he gives, supremely good,
Nor less when he denies;
E'en crosses from his sovereign hand
Are blessings in disguise.
3 Whate'er I ask, I surely know
And steadfastly believe,
He will the thing desired bestow,
Or else a better give.
4 To thee I therefore, Lord, submit
My every fond request,
And own, adoring at thy feet,
Thy will is always best.
My poor soul hath fled by prayer,
Why should I give way to grief,
Or to heart-consuming care?
Are not all things in his hand,
Has he not the promise passed?
Will he then regardless stand,
Will he let me sink at last?
2 While I know, his providence
Still disposeth each event;
Shall I judge by feeble sense,
Shall I yield to discontent?
If he worms and sparrows feed,
Clothe the grass in rich array;
Can he see a child in need,
From me turn his eye away?
3 When his name was quite unknown,
And while sin my life employed;
Then he watched me as his own,
Or I must have been destroyed:
Now his mercy-seat I know,
Now by grace I'm reconciled;
Would he spare me while a foe,
Now to leave me when a child?
4 If he all my wants supplied,
When I still disdained to pray ;
Now his Spirit is my guide,
How can Jesus answer nay?
If he would not give me up,
When my soul against him fought;
Will he disappoint the hope,
Which himself in me hath wrought?
5 If he shed his precious blood,
Me to bring to his blest fold;
Can I think, that meaner good
He will e'er from me withold?
Vain is Satan's each device,
Here my hope rests well assured;
In that great redemption-price
I now see the whole secured.
COMMIT thou every grievance
Into his faithful hands,
To his sure care and guidance,
Who heaven and earth commands;
For he, the clouds' director,
Whom winds and seas obey,
Will be thy kind protector,
And will prepare thy way.
2 Rely on God thy Saviour,
So shalt thou safe go on;
Build on his grace and favor,
So shall thy work be done :
Thou canst make no advances
By self-consuming care;
But he his help dispenses,
When called upon by prayer.
3 My soul, then, with assurance
Hope still, be not dismayed;
He will from each encumbrance
Again lift up thy head:
Beyond thy wish extended
His goodness will appear,
When he hath fully ended
What caused thy needless fear.
'MID stormy days and nights of fear,
My anxious soul on thee would rest;
My Jesus, when wilt thou draw near
To heal the sorrows of my breast?
O Saviour, till my tearful eye
Shall draw from thee the promised peace; Until the waves of misery
At thine almighty word shall cease:
2 Till then, though clouds inclose me round,
And darkness hide thee from my sight,
Mine ear shall listen for the sound
Of thy dear footsteps in the night;
Thus waiting till the morn appear
When thou upon my soul shalt rise,
And with sweet words of promise cheer,
And heal my wounds, and dry my eyes.
CALL Jehovah thy salvation,
Rest beneath the Almighty's shade;
In his secret habitation
Dwell, nor ever be dismayed;
There no tumult can alarm thee,
Thou shalt dread no hidden snare;
Guile nor violence can harm thee,
In eternal safeguard there.
2 From the sword at noon-day wasting,
From the noisome pestilence
In the depth of midnight blasting,
God shall be thy sure defence;
Fear not thou the deadly quiver,
When a thousand feel the blow;
Mercy shall thy soul deliver,
Though ten thousand be laid low.
3 Since, with pure and warm affection,
Thou on God hast set thy love,
With the wings of his protection
He will shield thee from above;
Thou shalt call on him in trouble,
He will hearken, he will save;
Here, for grief, reward thee double,
Crown with life beyond the grave.
Not to live without the cross;
But the Saviour's power to know,
Sanctifying every loss.
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