Whene'er I make some sudden stop

Representative Text

1 Whene’er I make some sudden stop –
For many such I make –
And cannot see the cloud cleared up
Nor know which path to take,

2 I to my Saviour speed my way,
To tell my dubious state;
Then listen what the Lord will say,
And hope to follow that.

3 If Jesus seem to hide his face,
What anxious fears I feel!
But if he deign to whisper peace,
I’m happy! all is well.

4 Confirmed by one soft, secret word,
I seek no further light;
But walk, depending on my Lord,
By faith, and not by sight.

5 Of friends and counsellors bereft,
I often hear him say,
“Decline not to the right or left;
Go on; lo! here’s the way.”

6 Weak in myself, in him I’m strong;
His Spirit’s voice I hear.
The way I walk cannot be wrong,
If Jesus be but there.

7 [He is my Helper and my Guide;
I trust in him alone;
No other helps have I beside;
I venture all on One.]

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #812

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Author: J. Hart

Hart, Joseph, was born in London in 1712. His early life is involved in obscurity. His education was fairly good; and from the testimony of his brother-in-law, and successor in the ministry in Jewin Street, the Rev. John Hughes, "his civil calling was" for some time "that of a teacher of the learned languages." His early life, according to his own Experience which he prefaced to his Hymns, was a curious mixture of loose conduct, serious conviction of sin, and endeavours after amendment of life, and not until Whitsuntide, 1757, did he realize a permanent change, which was brought about mainly through his attending divine service at the Moravian Chapel, in Fetter Lane, London, and hearing a sermon on Rev. iii. 10. During the next two years ma… Go to person page >

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