We cannot always trace the way

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We cannot always trace the way

Author: John Bowring
Published in 15 hymnals

Piano/Organ
	Early American Hymn Tunes

Representative Text

1 We cannot always trace the way,
Where Thou, our gracious Lord, dost move;
But we can always surely say
That God is love.

2 When fear its gloomy cloud will fling
O'er earth--our souls, to heaven above,
As to their sanctuary, spring
For God is love.

3 When clouds hand o'er our darkened path,
We'll check our dread, each doubt reprove;
For here each saint sweet comfort hath,
That God is love.

4 Yes, Thou art love--a truth like this
Can ev'ry gloomy thought remove,
And turn our tears and woes to bliss;
Our God is love.

Source: A Few Hymns and Some Spiritual Songs. Selected 1856, for the Little Flock. Revised, 1881 #9A

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Author: John Bowring

James Bowring was born at Exeter, in 1792. He possessed at an early age a remarkable power of attaining languages, and acquired some reputation by his metrical translations of foreign poems. He became editor of "The Westminster Review" in 1825, and was elected to Parliament in 1835. In 1849, he was appointed Consul at Canton, and in 1854, was made Governor of Hong Kong, and received the honour of knighthood. He is the author of some important works on politics and travel, and is the recipient of several testimonials from foreign governments and societies. His poems and hymns have also added to his reputation. His "Matins and Vespers" have passed through many editions. In religion he is a Unitarian. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charl… Go to person page >

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