When Darkness Long Has Veiled My Mind

When dark­ness long has veiled my mind

And smil­ing day once more ap­pears;

Then

my Re­deem­er

then I find

The fol­ly of my doubts and fears.

Strait I up­braid my wan­der­ing heart

And blush that I should ev­er be

Thus prone to act so base a part

Or har­bor one hard thought of Thee!

Oh! let me then at length be taught

What I am still so slow to learn;

That God is love

and chang­es not

Nor knows the sha­dow of a turn.

Sweet truth

and easy to re­peat!

But when my faith is sharp­ly tried

I find my­self a learn­er yet

Unskillful

weak

and apt to slide.

But

O my Lord

one look from Thee

Subdues the dis­obe­di­ent will;

Drives doubt and dis­content away

And Thy re­bel­lious worm is still.

Thou art as rea­dy to for­give

As I am rea­dy to re­pine;

Thou

there­fore all the praise re­ceive

Be shame and self-ab­hor­rence mine.