John Newton & William Cowper · 260 of 356
16. ’Tis my happiness below
Hymn 16
’Tis my happiness below Not to live without the cross; But the Savior’s pow’r to know, every loss: Trials must and will befall; But with humble faith to see Love inscribed upon them all, This is happiness to me.
God, in Israel, sows the seeds Of affliction, pain, and toil; These spring up, and choke the weeds Which would else o’erspread the soil: Trials make the promise sweet, Trials give hew life to prayer; Trials bring me to his feet, Lay me low, and keep me there.
Did I meet no trials here, No chastisement by the way; Might I not, with reason, fear I should prove a cast–away: Bastards may escape the rod, Sunk in earthly, vain delight; But the true–born child of GOD, Must not, would not, if he might.