God moves in a mysterious way...

William Cowper (1731 - 1800 / Hertfordshire / England)

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

To The Second Person

O benign Jesu, my sovereign Lord and King,

     The only Son of God by filiation,

The Second Person withouten beginning,

    Both God and man, our faith maketh plain relation,

    Mary Thy mother, by way of incarnation,

Whose glorious passion our soulès doth revive,

  Against all bodily and ghostly tribulaton

Defend me with the piteous woundès five.

O peerless Prince, painèd to the death,

    Ruefully rent, They body wan and blo,

For my redemption gave up Thy vital breath,

    Was never sorrow like to Thy deadly woe!

    Grant me, out of this world when I shall go,

Thine endless mercy for my preservative:

    Against the world, the flesh, the devil also,

Defend me with Thy piteous woundès five.

-John Skelton / 1460?-1529