The Cyber Hymnal ‎#12604

12604. Thus Far On Life's Bewildering Path

1 Thus far on life’s bewildering path,
Thus far, Thou, Lord, our steps hast led;
Snatched from the world’s pursuing wrath,
Unharmed, though floods hung o’er our head;
Like ransomed Israel on the shore,
Here, then, we pause, look back, adore.

2 Strangers and pilgrims here below,
Like all our fathers in their day,
We to the land of promise go,
Lord, by Thine own appointed way:
Still guide, illumine, cheer our flight,
In cloud by day, in fire by night.

3 Safety Thy presence is, and rest;
While—as the eagle, o’er her brood
Flutters her pinions, stirs the nest,
Covers, defends, provides them food,
Bears on her wings, instructs to fly—
Thy love prepares us for the sky.

4 Protect us through the wilderness
From fiery tempest, plague, and foe;
With bread from Heav’n Thy people bless,
And living streams where’er we go:
Nor let our rebel hearts repine,
Or follow any voice but Thine.

5 Thy holy law to us proclaim,
But not from Sinai’s top alone;
Hid in the rock cleft, be Thy name,
Thy power and all Thy goodness shown;
And may we never bow the knee,
Or worship any God but Thee.

6 When we have numbered all our years,
And stand, at length, on Jordan’s brink,
Though the flesh fail with mortal fears,
O let not then the spirit sink;
But, strong in faith, and hope, and love,
Plunge through the stream to rise above.

Text Information

• First Line: Thus far on life’s bewildering path
• Title: Thus Far On Life's Bewildering Path
• Author: James Montgomery
• Meter: 88.88.88
• Language: English
• Source: First print­ed on a broad­sheet for use at the An­ni­ver­sa­ry Ser­mons, on be­half of the Red Hill Sun­day School, Shef­field, Eng­land, March 28, 1819. "The Christian Israel"
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Alternate tunes: BARRAGH by John Chetham, CAREY'S SURREY by Henry Carey, FOLKINGHAM from "Supplement to the New Version," 1700

Tune Information

• Name: BRECKNOCK
• Composer: Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1875)
• Meter: 88.88.88
• Key: c minor or modal
• Source: European Psalmist, 1875
• Copyright: Public Domain