As Thou Wilt

Go not far from me, Ο my strength,
Whom all my times obey.
Take from me — anything thou wilt,
But go not Thou away.
So let the storm that bears me homo,

On thy compassion I repose,
In weakness and distress;
I will not ask for greater ease,
Lest I should love thee less.
Oh! ‘tis a blessed thing for me,
To need thy tenderness.

Thy love hath many a hidden path,
No outward eye can trace;
And, through the darkest night, my heart
Leaps to behold thy lace;
And communes with thee ‘mid the storm,
As in a quiet place.

Ο Comforter of God’s redeemed,
Whom the world does not. see,
I wish not to avoid the flood
That casts my soul on thee.
Who would not suffer pain like mine,
To be consoled like me?

When I am feeble, as a child,
And flesh and heart give way,
Then, on thine everlasting strength,
With passive trust I stay;
And the rough wind becomes a song,
The darkness shines like day.

It is not hard to bear, in faith,
In thine own bosom laid,
The trial of a soul redeemed,
For thy rejoicing made.
Well may the heart in patience rest,
That none can make afraid.

“Deep unto deep” may call, but I
With peaceful heart will say,
Thy lovingkindness has a charge
No wave can take away.
So let the storm that speeds me home,
Deal with me as it may.
A. L. W