The darkness of Providence.

Lord, we adore thy vast designs,

Th' obscure abyss of Providence,

Too deep to sound with mortal lines,

Too dark to view with feeble sense.

Now thou array'st thine awful face

In angry frowns, without a smile;

We, through the cloud, believe thy grace,

Secure of thy compassion still.

Through seas and storms of deep distress

We sail by faith, and not by sight;

Faith guides us in the wilderness,

Through all the briers and the night.

Dear Father, if thy lifted rod

Resolve to scourge us here below,

Still we must lean upon our God,

Thine arm shall bear us safely through.