Author: Charles Wesley Meter: 6.6.8.6 D Appears in 53 hymnals Lyrics: 1 Away my needless fears,
And doubts no longer mine!
A ray of heav’nly light appears,
A messenger divine:
Thrice comfortable hope
That calms my stormy breast;
My Father’s hand prepares the cup,
And what He wills is best.
2 He knows whate’er I want,
He sees my helplessness,
And always readier is to grant
Than I to ask His grace:
My fearful heart He reads,
Secures my soul from harms,
And underneath His mercy spreads
Its everlasting arms.
3 Here is firm footing; here,
My soul, is solid rock,
To break the waves of grief and fear,
And trouble’s rudest shock:
This only can sustain
When earth and Heav’n remove:
O turn thee to thy rest again,
Thy God’s eternal love.
4 To God again I turn,
And shelter in His breast,
His will (let me rejoice or mourn)
His will is surely best:
His skill infallible,
His providential grace,
His power, and truth, that never fail,
Shall order all my ways.
5 The random blows of chance,
The being I defy,
Whose life’s minutest circumstance,
Is subject to His eye:
He hears the ravens call;
Nor can His children grieve,
Nor can a worthless sparrow fall
Without my Father’s leave.
6 Why then was I cast down,
And troubled without cause,
And trembled at the creature’s frown,
And feared the threatened loss?
Shall I mistrust His care
My blessings to defend,
Or dread (who cannot lose a hair)
To lose a bosom friend?
7 If what I wish is good,
And suits the will divine,
By earth and hell in vain withstood,
I know it shall be mine:
Still let them counsel take
To frustrate His decree,
They cannot keep a blessing back
By Heav’n designed for me.
8 If what my soul requires
To me would evil prove,
His love shall cross my fond desires,
His kindly jealous love:
But would I for His sake
With every rival part,
My life, my all, my friend give back?
He knows, He knows my heart.
9 Here then I doubt no more,
But in His pleasure rest,
Whose wisdom, love, and truth and power
Engage to make me blest;
T’accomplish His design,
The creatures all agree,
And all the attributes divine
Are now at work for me.
10 To know my final state
I at His footstool bow,
Who tells my soul the hand of fate
Is on the curtain now!
His will the veil withdraws,
And while I lift my eyes,
Discovers here a glorious cross,
That draws me to the skies. Used With Tune: DIADEMATA Text Sources: Hymns and Sacred Poems Vol. 2 (Bristol, England: Felix Farley, 1749)
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