Joy in Sorrow, SONG III

This World's the Vale of Tears: We must not look to be, Whilst we are cloth'd with sinful Flesh, From griefs and sorrows free. Here Grief and Joy take turns: Hereafter Grief shall cease; And in the room thereof shall come Eternal Joy and Peace.

If for a little moment God seem to frown upon thee: With Everlasting kindnesses He will have mercy on thee. Our time of suff'ring here Is but a little while: And then his frown, that makes thee sad, Will turn into a smile.

Thy Tears are like good Seed Sown in a fruitful Field: They are not lost, but shall in time A joyful Harvest yield. Who sow in tears shall reap In joy: who go and mourn Bearing choice seed, shall sure with joy Bringing their sheaves return.

In midst of Sorrows great Let this thy Grief allay, That God will turn thy tears to joy And mirth another day. The more thy Sorrows here And Sufferings have bin: The greater joy and Happiness Hereafter thou shalt win.

'Tis better now to mourn And to rejoice hereafter: Then for to wail eternally For sinful mirth and laughter. Short sinful Pleasures have Long-lasting endless pains: Short and light suff'rings have long joyes And everlasting gains.

Eternall Happiness Will make amends for all. While Faith beholds what joy's to come, It counts all suff'rings small. If drops of Heav'nly Pleasure Be sweet unto thy taste: How sweet will streams and rivers be, Where drink thy fill thou may'st?

Thy future joy so great And Ocean-like shall be: That thou must enter into it, It cannot enter thee. Oh what a joy is that That Thought cannot conceive! That mortal Tongue cannot express, Nor Heart of man believe!

The greatest present Griefs, That thee so much annoy, Will soon be swallowed in that Sea Of Everlasting joy. 'Twill then a Pleasure be, To think of what is past: And greatly adde unto thy joy To minde how sad thou wast.