Affliction.
Days of sorrow most distressing,
Hours of sickness, grief and pain,
Often prove the highest blessing,
And to us are richest gain;
When we feel a God of Mercy
Thus afflicts us in his love,
And from earth our thought is drawing
To His sacred rest above.
Heaven’s kingdom must be in us,
Holy love possess each breast—
Truth and purity and goodness—
Would we know eternal rest;
God in kindness ever striveth
This high blessing to impart,
And by overcoming evil
Fill with gladness every heart.
Earth’s vain trifles often lead us
To forget our gracious God,
Him who made us and redeemed us
And in us would make abode
By His Holy Spirit giving
Gifts of purity and peace,
Richer, larger, fairer, higher,
Till this breath of life shall cease.
Then to pass from earth as angels
To far brighter realms above,
Where all have eternal dwellings
In the sunshine of His love;
Full of gladness and rejoicing,
Full of gratitude and praise,
Still to higher life advancing
Through their never ending days.
Happy hearts that now receive Him,
And in holy worship bow,
Meek, repentant—trusting, hoping,
His salvation’s joy to know!
If they live—they earth inherit,
And in purer peace will dwell.
If they die—the heavens receive them
To that bliss no tongue can tell.