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THE CHILD, that to his mother clings, | |
| Lies not all safely on her breast, | |
| Till she her arms around him flings, | |
| Sweetly caressing and caressed; | |
| Ev’n so, my God, Thy mighty arms, | 5 |
| Not my poor FAITH, shield me from harms. | |
| |
| I bless Thy Name for every grace, | |
| Wherewith Thou dost enrich Thine own; | |
| Yea, I would seek each day to trace | |
| Myself more like my Master grown; | 10 |
| Yet, O my God, Thy mighty arms, | |
| Not my faint LOVE, shield me from harms. | |
| |
| I walk along this sin-scarr’d Earth, | |
| In brightness now and now in dole; | |
| Now all “cast down” and now in mirth; | 15 |
| Now griefs, now joys, possess my soul; | |
| But, O my God, Thy mighty arms, | |
| Not my dim HOPE, shield me from harms. | |
| |
| Within, amidst the world’s unrest, | |
| Thou, Lord! the calming word hast given; | 20 |
| Thy peace abides, howe’er I’m press’d; | |
| And yields an antepast of Heaven: | |
| But, O my God, Thy mighty arms, | |
| Not my own PEACE, shield me from harms. | |
| |
| My mouth Thou fillest with “sweet songs”; | 25 |
| Makest my feet run in “the WAY”; | |
| Giv’st me the joy to Thine belongs; | |
| Nor scarcely ever sayest me nay: | |
| But, O my God, Thy mighty arms, | |
| Not my scant JOY, shield me from harms. | 30 |
| |
| The child, that to his mother clings, | |
| Lies not all safely on her breast, | |
| Till she her arms around him flings, | |
| Sweetly caressing and caressed: | |
| Ev’n so, my God, Thy mighty arms, | 35 |
| Not aught of mine, shield me from harms. | |
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