God is Love; His mercy brightens All the path in which we rove; Bliss He wakes, and woe He lightens: God is Wisdom, God is Love. 2. Chance and change are busy ever, Man decays, and ages move, But His mercy waneth never: God is Wisdom, God is Love. 3. E’en the hour that darkest seemeth Will His changeless goodness prove; From the gloom His brightness streameth: God is Wisdom, God is Love. 4. He with earthly cares entwineth Hope and comfort from above; Everywhere His glory shineth: God is Wisdom, God is Love. J. Bowring, 1825. 511 8, 7, 8 l Who puts his trust In God most just Hath built his house securely; He who relies On Jesus Christ, Heaven shall be his most surely. Then fixed on Thee My trust shall be, For Thy truth cannot alter; While mine Thou art Not death’s worst smart Shall make my courage falter. 2. Though fiercest foes My course oppose, A dauntless front I’ll show them; My Champion Thou, Lord Christ, art now, Who soon shalt overthrow them; And if but Thee I have in me With Thy good gifts and Spirit, Nor death nor hell, I know full well, Shall hurt me, through Thy merit. 3. I rest me here Without a fear; By Thee shall all be given That I can need, O Friend indeed, For this life or for heaven. O keep me true, My heart renew, My soul and flesh deliver! Lord, hear my prayer And in Thy care Keep me in peace forever. J. Magdeburg, 1572; C. Winkworth, tr. 512 11, 10, 11, 10 Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish, Come to the mercy-seat, fervently kneel; Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish; Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal. 2. Joy of the desolate, light of the straying, Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure, Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying, Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot cure. 3. Here see the Bread of Life, see water flowing Forth from the throne of God, pure from above. Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing Earth has no sorrow but Heaven can remove. T. Moore, 1816. Stanza 3 a. 513 4, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7, 7 God liveth still! Soul, despair not, fear no ill! God is good; from His compassion Earthly help and comfort flow; Strong is His right hand to fashion All things well for man below. Trial, oft the most distressing, In the end has proved a blessing. Wherefore, then, my soul, despair? God still lives, who heareth prayer.