25. Hymn: The Angel of Patience

Hymn: The Angel of Patience

Author: Karl Johann Philipp Spitta (1801-1859)

A gentle Angel walketh throughout world of woe,
With messages of mercy to mourning hearts below;
His peaceful smile invites them to love and to confide,
Oh! follow in His footsteps, keep closely by His side!

So gently will He lead thee through all the cloudy day,
And whisper of glad tidings to cheer the pilgrim-way;
His courage never failing, when thine is almost gone,
He takes thy heavy burden, and helps to bear it on.

To soft and tearful sadness He changes dumb despair,
And soothes to deep submission the storm of grief and care;
Where midnight shades are brooding He pours the light of noon,
And every grievous wound He heals, most surely, if not soon.

He will not blame thy sorrows, while He brings the healing balm;
He does not chide thy longings, while He soothes them into calm;
And when thy heart is murmuring, and wildly asking why?
He smiling beckons forward, points upward to the sky.

He will not always answer thy questions and thy fear,
His watchword is "Be patient, the journey's end is near!"
And ever through the toilsome way, He tells of joys to come,
And points the pilgrim to his rest, the wanderer to his home.

14. Hymn: Light in Darkness

Hymn: Light in Darkness

Author: Karl Johann Philipp Spitta (1801-1859)

All things work together for good to them that love God. (Rom.8:28)

How weary and how worthless this life at times appears!
What days of heavy musings, what hours of bitter tears!
How dark the storm-clouds gather along the wintry skies!
How desolate and cheerless the path before us lies!

And yet these days of dreariness are sent us from above:
They do not come in anger, but in faithfulness and love;
They come to teach us lessons which bright ones could not yield,
And to leave us blest and thankful when their purpose is fulfilled.

They come to draw us nearer to our Father and our Lord,
More earnestly to seek His face, to listen to His word.
And to feel, if now around us a desert land we see,
Without the star of promise, what would its darkness be!

They come to lay us lowly and humbled in the dust,
All self-deception swept away, all creature-hope and trust;
Our helplessness, our vileness, our guiltiness to own,
And flee, for hope and refuge, to Christ, and Christ alone.

They come to break the fetters which here detain us fast,
And force our long reluctant hearts to rise to heaven at last
And brighten every prospect of that eternal home,
Where grief and disappointment and fear can never come.

Then turn not in despondence, poor weary heart, away,
But meekly journey onwards, through the dark and cloudy day;
Even now the bow of promise is above thee painted bright,
And soon a joyful morning shall dissipate the night.

Thy God hath not forgot thee, and, when He sees it best,
Will lead thee into sunshine, will give thee bowers of rest;
And all thy pain and sorrow, when the pilgrimage is o'er,
Shall end in heavenly blessedness, and joys for evermore!

7. Hymn: Waiting

Hymn: Waiting

Author: Karl Johann Philipp Spitta (1801-1859)

Mine hour is not yet come. (John 2:4)

 "Jesus' hour is not yet come;"
Let this word thine answer be,
Pilgrim, asking for thy home,
Longing to be blest and free.
Yet a season tarry on-
Nobly borne is nobly done.

While oppressing cares and fears,
Night and day no respite leave,
Still prolonged through many years,
None to help thee or relieve,
Hold the word of promise fast,
Till deliverance comes at last.

Every creature-hope and trust,
Every earthly prop or stay,
May lie prostrate in the dust,
May have failed or passed away;
Then when darkness falls the night,
Jesus comes, and all is light.

Yes, the Comforter draws nigh
To the breaking, bursting heart,
For, with tender sympathy,
He has seen and felt its smart:
Through its darkest hours of ill,
He is waiting, watching still.

Dost thou ask, When comes His hour?
Then, when it shall aid thee best.
Trust His faithfulness and power,
Trust in Him and quietly rest.
Suffer on, and hope, and wait-
Jesus never comes too late.

Blessed day, which hastens fast,
End of conflict and of sin
Death itself shall die at last,
Heaven's eternal joys begin.
Then eternity shall prove,
God is Light, and God is Love.