Since all the down­ward tracts of time
God’s watch­ful eye sur­veys,
O who so wise to choose our lot
Or to ap­point our ways?

Good when He gives, su­preme­ly good,
Nor less when He de­nies;
E’en cross­es from His so­ver­eign hand
Are bless­ings in dis­guise.

Why should we doubt a Fa­ther’s love,
So con­stant and so kind?
To His un­err­ing, gra­cious will
Be ev­ery wish re­signed.