I asked; my soul bethought of this: In just that very place of his Where he hath put and keepeth you, God hath no other thing to do. --Adeline Dutton Train Whitney. CONSTANT CARE How gentle God's commands! How kind his precepts are! Come, cast your burdens on the Lord, And trust his constant care. Beneath his watchful eye His saints securely dwell; That hand which bears all nature up Shall guard his children well. Why should this anxious load Press down your weary mind? Haste to your heavenly Father's throne And sweet refreshment find. His goodness stands approved, Unchanged from day to day; I'll drop my burden at his feet, And bear a song away. --Philip Doddridge. THOU KNOWEST Thou knowest, Lord, the weariness and sorrow Of the sad heart that comes to thee for rest. Cares of to-day and burdens for to-morrow, Blessings implored, and sins to be confest, I come before thee, at thy gracious word, And lay them at thy feet. _Thou knowest, Lord!_ Thou knowest all the past--how long and blindly On the dark mountains the lost wanderer strayed, How the good Shepherd followed, and how kindly He bore it home upon his shoulders laid, And healed the bleeding wounds, and soothed the pain, And brought back life, and hope, and strength again. Thou knowest all the present--each temptation, Each toilsome duty, each foreboding fear; All to myself assigned of tribulation, Or to beloved ones than self more dear! All pensive memories, as I journey on, Longings for sunshine and for music gone! Thou knowest all the future--gleams of gladness By stormy clouds too quickly overcast-- Hours of sweet fellowship and parting sadness, And the dark river to be crossed at last: Oh, what could confidence and hope afford To tread this path, but this--_Thou knowest, Lord!_ Thou knowest not alone as God--all-knowing-- As _man_ our mortal weakness thou hast proved On earth; with purest sympathies o'erflowing, O Saviour, thou hast wept, and thou hast loved. And love and sorrow still to thee may come And find a hiding-place, a rest, a home. Therefore I come, thy gentle call obeying, And lay my sins and sorrows at thy feet; On everlasting strength my weakness staying, Clothed in thy robe of righteousness complete. Then rising, and refreshed, I leave thy throne, And follow on to know as I am known! A GREAT DIFFERENCE Men lose their ships, the eager things To try their luck at sea, But none can tell, by note or count, How many there may be. One turneth east, another south-- They never come again, And then we know they must have sunk, But neither how nor when.