University of Virginia Library


72

‘THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL I TRUST IN HIM.’

What if I perish, after all,
And lose this life, Thy gracious boon?
Let me not fear that I shall fall
And die too soon.
I cannot fall till Thou dost let,
Nor die, except at Thy command.
Low let me lie, my Father, yet
Beneath Thy hand.
'Tis good to think, though I decrease,
Thou dost not, Lord, decrease with me.
What matters it that I must cease,
Since Thou must be?

73

The life Thou willedst me I use
To thank Thee for that gracious will;—
If I must lose it, I would choose
To thank Thee still.
No more might I lift prayerful eyes,
Or sway a tongue to grateful tones;
Yet should a noise of praise still rise
Even from my bones.