'TIS my happiness below Not to live without the cross, But the Saviour's power to know, Sanctifying every loss: Trials must and will befall; But with humble faith to see Love inscribed upon them all, This is happiness to me. God in Israel sows the seeds Of affliction, pain, and toil; These spring up and choke the weeds Which would else o'erspread the soil: Trials make the promise sweet, Trials give new life to prayer; Trials bring me to his feet, Lay me low, and keep me there. Did I meet no trials here, No chastisement by the way, Might I not with reason fear I should prove a castaway? Bastards may escape the rod, Sunk in earthly vain delight; But the true-born child of God Must not,--would not, if he might. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WHEN I RISE UP by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE LIVING DEAD by RALPH CHAPLIN THE SHRUBBERY, WRITTEN IN A TIME OF AFFLICTION by WILLIAM COWPER ENGLAND'S DEAD by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS SONNET: 10 by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY THE VALLEY OF UNREST (2) by EDGAR ALLAN POE THE DEATH OF A.G.A by EMILY JANE BRONTE THE WANDERER: 1. IN ITALY: NEWS by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON VERSES FOUND IN A SUMMER HOUSE AT HALES-OWEN by GEORGE GORDON BYRON |