A dreadful darkness closes in
  On my bewildered mind;
O let me suffer and not sin,
  Be tortured yet resigned.

Through all this world of whelming mist
  Still let me look to Thee,
And give me courage to resist
  The Tempter till he flee.

Weary I am -- O give me strength
  And leave me not to faint;
Say Thou wilt comfort me at length
  And pity my complaint.

I've begged to serve Thee heart and soul,
  To sacrifice to Thee
No niggard portion, but the whole
  Of my identity.

I hoped amid the brave and strong
  My portioned task might lie,
To toil amid the labouring throng
  With purpose pure and high.

But Thou hast fixed another part,
  And Thou hast fixed it well;
I said so with my breaking heart
  When first the anguish fell.

For Thou hast taken my delight
  And hope of life away,
And bid me watch the painful night
  And wait the weary day.

The hope and the delight were Thine;
  I bless Thee for their loan;
I gave Thee while I deemed them mine
  Too little thanks, I own.

Shall I with joy Thy blessings share
  And not endure their loss?
Or hope the martyr's crown to wear
  And cast away the cross?

These weary hours will not be lost,
  These days of passive misery,
These nights of darkness anguish tost
  If I can fix my heart on Thee.

Weak and weary though I lie,
  Crushed with sorrow, worn with pain,
Still I may lift to Heaven mine eyes
  And strive and labour not in vain,

That inward strife against the sins
  That ever wait on suffering;
To watch and strike where first begins
  Each ill that would corruption bring,

That secret labour to sustain
  With humble patience every blow,
To gather fortitude from pain
  And hope and holiness from woe.

Thus let me serve Thee from my heart
  Whatever be my written fate,
Whether thus early to depart
  Or yet awhile to wait.

If Thou shouldst bring me back to life
  More humbled I should be;
More wise, more strengthened for the strife,
  More apt to lean on Thee.

Should Death be standing at the gate
  Thus should I keep my vow;
But, Lord, whate'er my future fate
  So let me serve Thee now.