3 A little while to wear the vail of sadness, To toil with weary step through miry ways, Then to pour forth the fragrant oil of gladness, And clasp the girdle round the robe of Praise!
4 A little while, ’mid shadow and illusion, To strive by faith love’s mysteries to spell, Then read each dark enigma’s bright solution, Then hail sight’s verdict—He doth all things well.
5 And he who is himself the Gift and Giver, The future glory and the present smile, With the bright promise of the glad For ever, Will light the shadows of earth’s Little While.
931 11s & 10s. For yet a little while. Heb. 10:37.
A little longer still—patience belovéd; A little longer still, ere heaven unroll The glory, and the brightness, and the wonder, Eternal and divine, that waits thy soul.
2 A little longer ere life, true, immortal, (Not this our shadowy life) will be thine own, And thou shalt stand where winged archangels worship, And trembling bow before the great white throne.
3 A little longer still, and heaven awaits thee, And fills thy spirit with a great delight; Then our pale joys will seem a dream forgotten, Our sun a darkness, and our day a night.
4 A little longer, and thy heart, belovéd, Shall beat for ever with a love divine; And joy so pure, so mighty, so eternal, No mortal knows, and lives, shall then be thine.
5 A little longer yet, and angel voices Shall sing in heavenly chant upon thine ear; Angels and saints await thee, and God needs thee; Belovéd, can we bid thee linger here!
932 10s. Sufferings and glory. Rom. 8:18.
Through cross to crown! and though thy spirit’s life Trials untold assail with giant strength, Good cheer! good cheer! Soon ends the bitter strife, And thou shalt reign in peace with Christ at length.
2 Through woe to joy! and though at morn thou weep, And though the midnight finds thee weeping still, Good cheer! good cheer! The shepherd loves his sheep; Resign thee to the watchful Father’s will.
3 Through death to life! and through this vale of tears, And through this thistle-field of life, ascend To the great supper in that world whose years Of bliss unfading, cloudless, know no end.
933 10s. After the toil.
“After the toil,” when the morning breaks On the bloom-crowned hills of the heavenly land; “After the toil,” when each slumberer wakes, ’Neath the glorified touch of the Infinite Hand.
2 “After the toil,” when the dim earth sinks, Like a worn-out pebble in eternity’s sea; “After the toil,” when each thirsty soul drinks Of the River that flows through Immensity.
3 “After the toil,” O shadowing cloud Of time o’er the face of the Infinite; When thou shalt be dropped like a worm-eaten shroud, What a morning will dawn on us after the night!
4 “After the toil,” and the cross that we bear Way-worn and weary through life’s creeping years; Angels will smile on the crown we shall wear, And the songs of salvation will follow our tears.
5 “After the toil,” O! thou who art faint, Rise from the shadows that darken thy way— Rise while thy faith’s raptured pencil shall paint All its glorified dream of the Infinite Day.
934 9s & 8s. The day is at hand. Rom. 13:12.
Christian, the morn breaks sweetly o’er thee, And all the midnight shadows flee; Tinged are the distant skies with glory, A beacon-light hung out for thee; Arise, arise! the light breaks o’er thee, Thy name is graven on the throne, Thy home is in the world of glory, Where thy Redeemer reigns alone.
2 Tossed on time’s rude, relentless surges, Calmly, composed, and dauntless stand; For lo! beyond those scenes emerges The hights that bound the promised land. Behold! behold! the land is nearing, Where the wild sea-storm’s rage is o’er; Hark! how the heavenly hosts are cheering; See in what throngs they range the shore!
3 Cheer up! cheer up! the day breaks o’er thee, Bright as the summer’s noontide ray, The star-gemmed crowns and realms of glory Invite thy happy soul away; Away! away! leave all for glory, Thy name is graven on the throne; Thy home is in that world of glory, Where thy Redeemer reigns alone.
935 P. M. Whatever my God ordains is right.
Whate’er my God ordains is right, His will is ever just; Howe’er he orders now my cause, I will be still and trust. He is my God; Though dark my road, He holds me that I shall not fall; Wherefore to him I leave it all.
2 Whate’er my God ordains is right; He never will deceive; He leads me by the proper path, And so to him I cleave, And take content What he hath sent; His hand can turn my griefs away, And patiently I wait his day.