Hymns, Selected and Original ‎#444

444. 'Tis my happiness below

1 'Tis my happiness below,
Not to live without the cross;
But the Saviour's pow'r to know,
Sanctifying every loss:
Trials must and will befall;
But--with humble faith to see
Love inscrib'd upon them all--
This is happiness to me.

2 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 me life to pray'r;
Trials bring me to his feet,--
Lay me low, and keep me there.

3 Did I meet no trials here--
No chastisement by the way--
Might I not, with reason, fear
I should prove a cast-away?
Bastards may escape the rod,
Sunk in earthly vain delight;
But the true-born son of God
Must not,--would not, if he might.

Text Information

• First Line: 'Tis my happiness below
• Meter: P. M.
• Publication Date: 1828
• Topic: Christian experience: The Christian life figuratively described as Taking up the Cross; Welcoming the Cross

Tune Information

(No tune information)