bright,
As best may seem to thee.

"My times are in thy hand";
Why should I doubt or fear?
My Father's hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.

"My times are in thy hand,"
Jesus, the crucified!
The hand my cruel sins had pierced
Is now my guard and guide.

"My times are in thy hand";
I'll always trust in thee;
And, after death, at thy right hand
I shall forever be.

--William F. Lloyd.

ALL FOR THE BEST

Away, my needless fears,
And doubts no longer mine;
A ray of heavenly light appears,
A messenger divine.

Thrice comfortable hope,
That calms my troubled breast;
My Father's hand prepares the cup
And what he wills is best.

If what I wish is good,
And suits the will divine,
By earth and hell in vain withstood,
I know it shall be mine.

Still let them counsel take
To frustrate his decree;
They cannot keep a blessing back,
By heaven designed for me.

Here, then, I doubt no more;
But in his pleasure rest
Whose wisdom, love, and truth, and power,
Engage to make me blest.

--Charles Wesley.

GOD NEVER FORSAKES

Leave God to order all thy ways,
And hope in him, whate'er betide,
Thou'lt find in him, in evil days,
Thy all-sufficient strength and guide.
Who trusts in God's unchanging love
Builds on the rock that naught can move.

What can these anxious cares avail,
The never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help us to bewail
Each painful moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.

Only thy restless heart keep still,
And wait in cheerful hope, content
To take whate'er his gracious will,
His all-discerning love, hath sent.
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To him who chose us for his own.

He knows when joyful hours are best;
He sends them as he sees it meet;
When thou hast borne the fiery test,
And now art freed from all deceit,
He comes to thee all unaware
And makes thee own his loving care.

Nor in the heat of pain and strife
Think God has cast thee off unheard,
And that the man whose prosperous life
Thou enviest is of him preferred.
Time passes, and much change doth bring
And sets a bound to everything.