CAST THY BURDEN ON THE LORD

Thou who art touched with feeling of our woes,
Let me on thee my heavy burden cast!
My aching, anguished heart on thee repose.
Leaving with thee the sad mysterious past;
Let me submissive bow and kiss the rod;
Let me "be still, and know that thou art God."

Why should my harassed agitated mind
Go round and round this terrible event?
Striving in vain some brighter side to find,
Some cause why all this anguish has been sent?
Do I indeed that sacred truth believe--
Thou dost not willingly afflict and grieve?

My lovely gourd is withered in an hour!
I droop, I faint beneath the scorching sun;
My Shepherd, lead me to some sheltering bower;
There where thy little flock "lie down at noon";
Though of my dearest earthly joy bereft
Thou art my portion still; thou, thou, my God, art left.

--Charlotte Elliott.

Says God: "Who comes towards me an inch through doubtings dim,
In blazing light I do approach a yard towards him."

--Oriental, tr. by William Rounseville Alger.

The light of love is round His feet,
His paths are never dim;
And He comes nigh to us, when we
Dare not come nigh to Him.

--Frederick William Faber.

Not in our waking hours alone
His constancy and care are known,
But locked in slumber fast and deep
He giveth to us while we sleep.

--Frederick Lucian Hosmer.

HIS CARE

God holds the key of all unknown,
And I am glad.
If other hands should hold the key,
Or if he trusted it to me,
I might be sad.

What if to-morrow's cares were here
Without its rest?
I'd rather he unlock the day,
And as the hours swing open say,
"Thy will be best."

The very dimness of my sight
Makes me secure;
For groping in my misty way,
I feel his hand; I hear him say,
"My help is sure."

I cannot read his future plan,
But this I know:
I have the smiling of his face,
And all the refuge of his grace,
While here below.

Enough; this covers all my want,
And so I rest;
For what I cannot he can see,
And in his care I sure shall be
Forever blest.

--John Parker.

Forever, from the hand that takes
One blessing from us, others fall;
And soon or late our F