297    104th     J. Kent
The Trial of Faith. Ps. 11. 5; Mal. 3. 3

1 Jehovah has said, ’tis left on record,
  “The righteous are one with Jesus the Lord;”
  At all times he loves them; ’twas for them he died;
  Yet ofttimes he proves them, for grace must be tried.

2 When faint in the way, or lifeless and cold,
  Or sunk in dismay, and none to uphold;
  Yet firm to his promise thy God shall abide;
  But grace, though the smallest, shall surely be tried.

3 [Temptations and sins in legions shall rise,
  As spears in thy side or thorns in thy eyes;
  And oft, to thy sorrow, his face he shall hide,
  For God has determined his grace shall be tried.]

4 With him on the mount today thou shalt be,
  Indulged by thy Lord his glory to see;
  There he may caress thee, and call thee his bride,
  Yet grace, though he bless thee, shall surely be tried.

5 [The tempest shall blow, the billows shall swell,
  Thy soul, full of woe, shall pass as through hell;
  And all this to prove thee, to stain thy cursed pride;
  Yet still he will love thee; but grace must be tried.]

6 He’ll ne’er thee forsake, but surely perform
  His word, though he take his way in the storm;
  Yea, oft in the clouds of dejection he’ll ride,
  For he has determined his grace shall be tried.

7 He’ll cause thee to bring thy griefs to his throne,
  But answers of peace to thee shall send none;
  Then sorrow and sadness thy heart shall divide,
  Because he’s determined his grace shall be tried.

8 As gold from the flame, he’ll bring thee at last,
  To praise him for all through which thou hast past;
  Then love everlasting thy griefs shall repay,
  And God from thy eyes wipe all sorrows away.