Patience and Resignation

696 The Request

1 FATHER, whate'er of earthly bliss Thy sovereign will denies, Accepted at Thy throne of grace Let this petition rise:

3 "Give me a calm, a thankful heart, From every murmur free; The blessings of Thy grace impart, And make me live to Thee.

3 "Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine My life and death attend:

Thy presence through my journey shine, And crown my journey's end."

Anne Steele, 1760.

697 "Give us Day by Day our Daily Bread."

1 DAY by day the manna fell;

Oh! to learn this lesson well, Still by constant mercy fed, Give me, Lord, my daily bread.

2 "Day by day," the promise reads;

Daily strength for daily needs:

Cast foreboding fears away;

Take the manna of to-day.

3 Lord, my times are in Thy hand;

All my sanguine hopes have plann'd To Thy wisdom I resign, And would make Thy purpose mine.

4 "Thou my daily task shalt give;

Day by day to Thee I live: So shall added years fulful, Not mine own—my Father's will.

5 Fond ambition, whisper not;

Happy is my humble lot:

Anxious, busy cares away!

I'm provided for to-day.

6 Oh to live exempt from care, By the energy of prayer;

Strong in faith, with mind subdued;

Yet elate with gratitude!

Josiah Conder, 1837.

698

Submission

1 O LORD! my best desires fulfil, And help me to resign Life, health, and comfort to Thy will, And make Thy pleasure mine!

2 Why should I shrink at Thy command, Whose love forbids my fears? Or tremble at the gracious hand That wipes away my tears?

3 No, let me rather freely yield what most I prize to Thee. Who never hast a good withheld, Nor wilt withhold from me.

4 Thy favour all my journey through Thou art engaged to grant;

What else I want, or think I do, 'Tis better still to want.

5 But ah! my inmost spirit cries, Still bind me to Thy sway!

Else the next cloud that veils my skies Drives all these thoughts away.

William Cowper, 1779.

699 "Not as I will, but as Thou wilt."

1 MY God and Father! while I stray Far from my home, in life's rough way, Oh! teach me from my heart to say, "Thy will be done!"

2 If Thou shouldst call me to resign What most I prize—it ne'er was mine;

I only yield Thee what was Thine:

"Thy will be done!"

3 If but my fainting heart be blest With Thy sweet Spirit for its guest, My God, to Thee I leave the rest;

"Thy will be done!"

4 Renew my will from day to day:

Blend it with Thine, and take away All that now makes it hard to say, "Thy will be done!"

5 Then when on earth I breathe no more The prayer oft mix'd with tears before, I'll sing upon a happier shore, "Thy will be done!"

Charlotte Elliot, 1834.

700 “Yet what I shall choose I wot not."

1 LORD, it belongs not to my care, Whether I die or live; To love and serve Thee is my share, And this Thy grace must give.

2 If life be long I will be glad, That I may long obey:

If short—yet why should I be sad To soar to endless day?

3 Christ leads me through no darker rooms Than He went through before;

He that into God's kingdom comes, Must enter by this door.

4 Come, Lord, when grace hath made me meet Thy blessed face to see; For if Thy work on earth be sweet, What will Thy glory be?

6 Then I shall end my sad complaints, And weary, sinful days; And join with the triumphant saints, That sing Jehovah's praise.

6 My knowledge of that life is small, The eye of faith is dim; But 'tis enough that Christ knows all, And I shall be with Him.

Richard Baxter, 1681

701 "My Times are in Thy Hand."

1 OUR times are in Thy hand, Father, we wish them there: Our life, our soul, our all, we leave Entirely to Thy care.

2 Our times are in Thy hand, Whatever they may be, Pleasing or painful, dark or bright, As best may seem to Thee.

3 Our times are in Thy band, Why should we doubt or fear? A Father's hand will never cause His child a needless tear.

4 Our times are in Thy hand, Jesus the Crucified! The hand our many sins had pierced Is now our guard and guide.

5 Our times are in Thy hand, We'll always trust in Thee;

Till we have left this weary land, And all Thy glory see.

William Freeman Lloyd, 1835, a.

702

Resignation.

1 MY times of sorrow and of joy, Great God, are in Thy hand; My choicest comforts come from Thee, And go at Thy command.

2 If Thou shouldst take them all away, Yet would I not repine;

Before they were possessed by me, They were entirely Thine.

3 Nor would I drop a murmuring word, Though the whole world were gone, But seek enduring happiness In Thee, and Thee alone.

4 What is the world with all its store?

'Tis but a bitter sweet; When I attempt to pluck the rose, A pricking thorn I meet.

5 Here perfect bliss can ne'er be found, The honey's mix'd with gall;

Midst changing scenes and dying friends, Be Thou my All in All.

Benjamin Beddome, 1818, a

703 "He shall choose our inheritance for us.".

1 THY way, not mine, O Lord, However dark it be;

Oh lead me by Thine own right hand, Choose out the path for me.

2 Smooth let it be or rough, It will be still the best;

Winding or straight it matters not, It leads me to Thy rest.

3 I dare not choose my lot, I would not if I might; But choose Thou for me, O my God, So shall I walk aright.

4 Take Thou my cup, and it With joy or sorrow fill; As ever best to Thee may seem, Choose Thou my good and ill.

5 Choose Thou for me my friend, My sickness or my health;

Choose Thou my joys and cares for me, My poverty or wealth.

6 Not mine, not mine the choice, In things or great or small; Be Thou my Guide, my Guard, my Strength, My Wisdom, and my All.

Horatius Bonar, 1856, a,