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JOYFUL IN TRIBULATIONS

“ESTEEMING THE REPROACH OF CHRIST GREATER
RICHES THAN THE TREASURES OF EGYPT.”

When we consider all thy goodness, Father,
Thy gentleness, thy tenderness, thy grace,
Our hearts stir with the mighty impulse
Thy praise to show in every time and place.

That all our outward life might show thy praises;
That other souls might know how good thou art,
And that our every thought and word and action
Might show our heart, like thine own perfect heart.

Thy sons, indeed! and when thy face, O Father,
Seems turned away, and we are chastened sore,
We thank thee for thy love so true and faithful
That scourgeth whom thou lovest more and more.

We praise thee, since in all thy gentle dealings
We see thy glory and thy beauty shine,
And in each act of thine we read so clearly
The sacred, holy peace of love Divine.

But, Father, more than all for this we thank thee—
For privilege to serve and suffer still,
As did our blessed Lord and holy Master:
Our sacred joy, since ’tis thy sacred will.

Thus, Father, spare us not; let fall the death stroke
Of pain and suff’ring that our flesh must see.
But give us grace that in the sharp ordeal,
Our hearts may yield sweet perfume unto thee.

We glory in our fleshly tribulation:
No joy of earth is sweet as pain for thee.
If pain for thee is sweet, what is the measure
Of Kingdom joy, our rapture soon to be!
ETHEL HALSTEAD.

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— April 15, 1910 —