XVII.

It well becomes frail man to acquiesce

In God’s most wise and holy providence;

Yea, though he bow his head in sore distress,

Borne down to earth by sufferings intense,

Still let him trust in God, his sure defence

Against the rushing tide; for sorrow’s flood

Can soon be stay’d by kind omnipotence.

Whene’er on us descends th’ afflictive rod,

Weak hearted though we be, our strength is found in God.