758    8.7.4.     J. Kent
“Chosen ... in the furnace of affliction.” Isa. 48. 10

1 Sons of God, in tribulation,
  Let your eyes the Saviour view;
  He’s the Rock of our salvation,
  He was tried and tempted too;
  All to succour
  Every tempted, burdened son.

2 ’Tis if need be, he reproves us,
  Lest we settle on our lees;
  Yet he in the furnace loves us;
  ’Tis expressed in words like these:
  “I am with thee,
  Israel, passing through the fire.”

3 To his church, his joy, and treasure,
  Every trial works for good;
  They are dealt in weight and measure,
  Yet how little understood!
  Not in anger,
  But from his dear covenant love.

4 If today he deigns to bless us
  With a sense of pardoned sin,
  Perhaps tomorrow he’ll distress us,
  Make us feel the plague within;
  All to make us
  Sick of self and fond of him.