WHEN gathering clouds around I view | |
| And days are dark, and friends are few | |
| On Him I lean, Who, not in vain, | |
| Experienc’d every human pain; | |
| He sees my wants, allays my fears, | 5 |
| And counts and treasures up my tears. | |
| |
| If aught should tempt my soul to stray | |
| From heavenly wisdom’s narrow way, | |
| To fly the good I would pursue, | |
| Or do the sin I would not do,— | 10 |
| Still He, Who felt temptation’s power, | |
| Shall guard me in that dangerous hour. | |
| |
| If wounded love my bosom swell, | |
| Deceiv’d by those I prized too well,— | |
| He shall His pitying aid bestow, | 15 |
| Who felt on earth severer woe, | |
| At once betrayed, denied, or fled, | |
| By those who shared His daily bread. | |
| |
| If vexing thoughts within me rise, | |
| And, sore dismay’d my spirit dies, | 20 |
| Still He Who once vouchsafed to bear | |
| The sickening anguish of despair, | |
| Shall sweetly soothe, shall gently dry, | |
| The throbbing heart, the streaming eye. | |
| |
| When sorrowing o’er some stone I bend, | 25 |
| Which covers what was once a friend, | |
| And from his voice, his hand, his smile, | |
| Divides me—for a little while; | |
| Thou, Saviour, mark’st the tears I shed, | |
| For Thou didst weep o’er Lazarus dead. | 30 |
| |
| And O, when I have safely past | |
| Through every conflict—but the last, | |
| Still, still unchanging, watch beside | |
| My painful bed—for Thou hast died; | |
| Then point to realms of cloudless day, | 35 |
| And wipe the latest tear away. | |
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