JESUS KNOWS
I cannot understand, when o'er Time's ocean
My life-barque sailed,
Why tempests came, and why in dim confusion
My way seemed veiled;
The reasons are not clear to my weak vision,—
I look in vain
For that fair port, and for those fields Elysian
I thought to gain.
But this is plain; God saw it best, and therefore
The storm arose;
And though I cannot see the why or wherefore,
Yet Jesus knows.
My life-barque sailed,
Why tempests came, and why in dim confusion
My way seemed veiled;
The reasons are not clear to my weak vision,—
I look in vain
For that fair port, and for those fields Elysian
I thought to gain.
But this is plain; God saw it best, and therefore
The storm arose;
And though I cannot see the why or wherefore,
Yet Jesus knows.
I cannot tell, why, when the day seemed clearest,
Dark clouds should lower;
Or why the hopes that my fond heart held dearest,
Failed in an hour:
I know not why the morning's glorious shining
Was veiled ere noon,
Or why the fragrant garlands love was twining
Should fade so soon.
But this I know; though God His why and where- fore
Doth not disclose,
His purposes are ever best, and therefore
He surely knows.
Dark clouds should lower;
Or why the hopes that my fond heart held dearest,
Failed in an hour:
I know not why the morning's glorious shining
Was veiled ere noon,
Or why the fragrant garlands love was twining
Should fade so soon.
But this I know; though God His why and where- fore
Doth not disclose,
His purposes are ever best, and therefore
He surely knows.
48
