I love to see thee bring to nought The plans of wily men; When simple hearts outwit the wise, Oh thou art loveliest then! The headstrong world, it presses hard Upon the church full oft, And then how easily thou turn'st The hard ways into soft. I love to kiss each print where thou Hast set thine unseen feet; I cannot fear thee, blessèd will, Thine empire is so sweet. When obstacles and trials seem Like prison-walls to be, I do the little I can do, And leave the rest to thee. I know not what it is to doubt; My heart is ever gay; I run no risk, for come what will, Thou always hast thy way. I have no cares, O blessèd will, For all my cares are thine; I live in triumph, Lord, for thou Hast made thy triumphs mine. And when it seems no chance or change From grief can set me free, Hope finds its strength in helplessness, And gayly waits on thee. Man's weakness waiting upon God Its end can never miss, For men on earth no work can do More angel-like than this. Ride on, ride on triumphantly, Thou glorious Will! ride on; Faith's pilgrim sons behind thee take The road that thou hast gone. He always wins who sides with God, To him no chance is lost; God's will is sweetest to him when It triumphs at his cost. Ill, that God blesses, is our good, And unblest good is ill; And all is right that seems most wrong, If it be his dear will! --_F. W. Faber._ THE PEACE OF GOD. We ask for Peace, O Lord! Thy children ask Thy peace; Not what the world calls rest, That toil and care should cease, That through bright sunny hours Calm Life should fleet away, And tranquil night should fade In smiling day;-- It is not for such Peace that we would pray. We ask for Peace, O Lord! Yet not to stand secure, Girt round with iron Pride, Contented to endure: Crushing the gentle strings That human hearts should know, Untouched by others' joy Or others' woe;-- Thou, O dear Lord, wilt never teach us so. We ask Thy Peace, O Lord! Through storm, and fear, and strife, To light and guide us on, Through a long, struggling life: While no success or gain Shall cheer the desperate fight, Or nerve, what the world calls, Our wasted might:-- Yet pressing through the darkness to the light. It is Thine own, O Lord, Who toil while others sleep, Who sow with loving care What other hands shall reap; They lean on Thee entranced, In calm and perfect rest: Give us that Peace, O Lord, Divine and blest, Thou keepest for those hearts who love Thee best. --_Adelaide Procter._ LISTENING IN DARKNESS--SPEAKING IN LIGHT. "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light." MATT. x. 27.