The One Refuge.

I.         Storms gather o'er thy path,     Christian! - the sullen, tempest-darkened sky     Grows lurid with the elemental wrath, -         Say, whither wilt thou fly?     God is my Refuge! - let the tempests come,     They will but speed me sooner to my home!     II.         Night lowers in sullen gloom,     Christian! - a long, dark night awaiteth thee,     Dreary as Egypt's night of fear and doom, -         Where will thy hiding be?     God is my refuge! - in the dreary night     In Him I dwell, and have abundant light!     III.         Thine is a lonely way,     Christian! - and dangers all thy path infest;     Pitfalls and snares crowd all thy doubtful way, -         Where is thy place of rest?     God is my Refuge! - safe in Him I move,     And feel no fear, kept by sustaining Love.     IV.         The grave - that dreary place,     Christian, the lonely dwelling in the dust     Awaits thee; 'tis the doom of all thy race, -         Where, then, shall be thy trust?     God is my refuge! Sweet will be my rest     On the dear pillow that my Saviour pressed!     V.         Alas! - that dreamless sleep -     Christian, its chains are strong, and hard to break;     All thy belov'd sleep on in silence deep,         And dost thou hope to wake?     God is my refuge! I shall wake and sing -     "O grave! where is thy vict'ry? - death thy sting?"