Contents
-BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By William Cowper (17311800)
Light out of Darkness
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GOD 1 moves in a mysterious way | |
His wonders to perform; | |
He plants His footsteps in the sea | |
And rides upon the storm. | |
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Deep in unfathomable mines | 5 |
Of never-failing skill, | |
He treasures up His bright designs, | |
And works His sovereign will. | |
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Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, | |
The clouds ye so much dread | 10 |
Are big with mercy, and shall break | |
In blessings on your head. | |
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Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, | |
But trust Him for His grace; | |
Behind a frowning Providence | 15 |
He hides a smiling face. | |
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His purposes will ripen fast, | |
Unfolding every hour; | |
The bud may have a bitter taste, | |
But sweet will be the flower. | 20 |
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Blind unbelief is sure to err, | |
And scan His work in vain: | |
God is His own interpreter, | |
And He will make it plain. | |
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Note 1. William Cowper became a poet at the suggestion of his friends, to relieve a melancholic mind from feeding upon itself. At the suggestion of the Rev. John Newton, the curate of Olney in Buckinghamshire, he co-operated with him in writing hymns for the church there. The sweetest of Cowper’s, “Hark, my soul,” is too well known to quote; but two others of the collection, which are rather poems than hymns are here given. For the rest, his verse, though often serious, offers no material for a “Lyra Sacra.” [back] |
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