112. The Remembrance of Mercy

W^hy art thou sorrowful, servant of God?
And what is this dulness that hangs o'er thee
now?
Sing the praises of Jesus, and sing them aloud,
And the song shall dispel the dark cloud from thy
brow.

For is there a thought in the wide world so sweet,
As that God has so cared for us, bad as we are,
That he thinks of us, plans for us, stoops to entreat,
And follows us, wander we ever so far?

Then how can the heart e'er be drooping or sad.
Which God hath once touched with the light of
His grace?
Can the child have a doubt who but lately hath laid
Himself to repose in his father's embrace?

And is it not wonderful, servant of God!
That He should have honored us so with His
love,
That the sorrows of life should but shorten the road
Which leads to Himself and the mansion above?

Oh then when the spirit of darkness comes down
With clouds and uncertainties into thy heart,
One look to thy Saviour, one thought of thy crown,
And the tempest is over, the shadows depart.

That God hath once whispered a word in thine ear,
Or sent thee from heaven one sorrow for sin.
Is enough for a life both to banish all fear,
And to turn into peace all the troubles within.

The schoolmen can teach thee far less about heaven.
Of the height of God's power, or the depth of
His love.
Than the fire in thy heart when thy sin was forgiven.
Or the light that one mercy brings down from
above.

Then why dost thou weep so? For see how time
flies.
The time that for loving and praising was given!
Away with thee, child, then, and hide thy red eyes
In the lap, the kind lap, of thy Father in heaven.