And though I groan and writhe beneath my crosses.
I yet shall see through my severest losses
The greater gain.
“I will not doubt. Well anchored is this faith,
Like some staunch ship, my soul braves every gale;
So strong its courage that it will not quail To breast
the mighty unknown sea of death. Oh, may I cry, though
body parts with spirit,’I do not doubt,’ so listening
worlds may hear it, With my last breath.”
“In fierce storms,” said an old seaman,”we must do one
thing; there is only one way: we must put the ship in a
certain position and keep her there.”
This, Christian, is what you must do. Sometimes, like
Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small
tempest lies on you; and then you can do but one thing;
there is only one way.
Reason cannot help you; past experiences give you no light.
Even prayer fetches no consolation. Only a single course is
left. You must put your soul in one position and keep it there.
You must stay upon the Lord; and come what may-winds, waves,
cross-seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers-no
matter what, you must lash yourself to the helm, and hold fast your
confidence in God’s faithfulness, His covenant engagement, His
everlasting love in Christ Jesus.
-Richard Fuller (1804-1876)
From Streams In The Desert Volume 1 Page 102 by Mrs.Charles E. Cowman