In silent gladness, from my heart That from His Presence can divide, Or rob me of His Love. If separate from Thee, my Lord, Thou art my soul's true Element, Living in Thee, I am secure ; I know no more of sorrow now : Thou Well-spring of all blessedness, Yea, if I only have Thy Love, And, with a beggar's staff alone, I royal riches have. Already am I, here on earth, Thus blest, and light of heart: What, then, shall be my portion There, When all earth's clouds depart? Then death all untold bliss will bring; Of the Eternal throne and crown Without Thy blessing Love, O Lord, My spirit had been lost; Left floating, helpless and alone, On life's wild ocean tost : But Thou hast to the Haven blest And, full of peace, I rest in Thee, For Thou my Saviour art. THE SERVANT OF THE LORD (DER DIENER DES HERRN.) O HIGHLY blessed servant, Who ever ready stands, Who, as a child, delighteth To serve Him night and day; And sore bewaileth every sin Thy heart and glance thou hangest On the Beloved Lord; Each moment finds thee close to Him, And listening for His Word. No warning loud thou needest ; But, silently and still, Close following The Master's steps, Thou canst foresee His Will. The burden laid upon thee Is scarce felt by thy heart: Thou thinkest, "He who sent the load E'en through thy tears thou smilest; There, blessèd, weep thou freely; He, Who far greater ones endured, And thy heart in bliss abideth ; And thy foot walks forth in light: Thus, as thy Sun, He shineth down, Breaking through clouds of night. From Him all blessing cometh, And leadeth back to Him ; Therefore on Him thy gaze is fixed, Piercing all earth-clouds dim. D How blessed is thy portion ; How well is it with thee, Thus, with thy whole life's earnestness, To serve Him faithfully! In comfort and in trouble, In good and evil days, In joy, and in affliction's hour, Thus in our Lord's dear Service Then, pressing on in boldness, To The Father's House we come, Where the servant shall for evermore Rest with his Lord at Home. |