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The Believer's Faith and Hope Encouraged, Even in the Darkest Nights of Desertion and Distress


By Ralph Erskine

"Thy Maker is thy Husband."—Isa 54.5


The cunning serpent may accuse,
       But never shall succeed ;
The God of peace will Satan bruise,
       Thy husband broke his head.

Hell-furies threaten to devour,
       Like lions robb'd of whelps:
But lo! in ev'ry perilous hour,
       Thy husband always helps.

That feeble faith may never fail,
       Thine advocate has pray'd ;
Though winnowing tempests may assail,
       Thy husband's near to aid.

Though grevious trials grow apace,
       And put thee to a stand ;
Thou may'st rejoice in ev'ry case,
       Thy husband's help at hand.

Trust, though, when in desertion dark,
       No twinkling star by night,
No ray appear, no glimm'ring spark;
       Thy husband is thy light.

His beams anon the clouds can rent,
       And through the vapours run
For of the brightest firmament
       Thy husband is the sun.

Without the sun [the] mourning go,
       And scarce the way can find,
He brings, through paths they do not know;
       Thy husband leads the blind.

Though fire and water he with skill
       Brings to a wealthy land;
Rude flames and roaring waves be still,
       Thy husband can command.

When sin's disorders heavy brings,
       That press thy soul with weight;
Then mind how many crooked things
       Thy husband has made straight.

Still look to him with longing eyes,
       Though both thine eyes should fail;
Cry, and at length, though not thy cries,
       Thy husband shall prevail.

Still hope for favour at his hand,
       Though favour don't appear:
When help seems most aloof to stand
       Thy husband's then most near.

In cases hopeless-like, faint hopes
       May fail and fears annoy;
But most when stript of earthly props,
       Thy husband thou'lt enjoy.

If providence the promise thwart,
       And yet thy humbled mind
'Gainst hope believes in hope,'
       thou art Thy husband's dearest friend.

Art thou a weakling, poor and faint,
       In jeopardy each hour?
Let not thy weakness move thy plaint,
       Thy husband has the pow'r.

Dread not thy foes that foil'd thee long,
       Will ruin thee at length:
When thou art weak then art thou strong,
       Thy husband is thy strength.

When foes are mighty, many too,
       Don't fear, nor quit the field;
'Tis not with thee they have to do,
       Thy husband is thy shield.

'Tis hard to strive against an host,
       Or strive against the stream:
But, lo! when all seems to be lost,
       Thy husband will redeem.


Index to Ralph Erskine
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