It is the Lord—enthron'd in light,
Whose claims are all divine;
Who has an undisputed right
To govern me and mine.

It is the Lord—should I distrust,
Or contradict his will,
Who cannot do but what is just,
And must be righteous still?

It is the Lord—who gives me all
My wealth, my friends, my ease;
And, of his bounties, may recall
Whatever part he please.

It is the Lord—who can sustain
Beneath the heaviest load—
From whom assistance I obtain
To tread the thorny road.

It is the Lord—-whose matchless skill
Can from afflictions raise
Matter eternity to fill
With ever-growing praise.

It is the Lord—my cov'nant God,
Thrice blessed be his name!
Whose gracious promise, seal'd with blood,
Must ever be the same.

His cov'nant will my soul defend,
Should nature's self expire,
And the great Judge of all descend
In awful flames of fire!

And can my soul, with hopes like these,
Be sullen, or repine?
No, gracious God! take what thou please,
To thee I all resign.
                      T. Greene


Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  Phil. 4:11

.....by precept, and example, and experience, ye see we are taught to be content with our estate, whatsoever it is, the meaning is, that the present estate wherein God hath set us, whatsoever it is, and whosoever we be, ought so to suffice and satisfy us, that though in it we want many things, yet with it we should be content.  The reason is, first, because it is the state, be it poor or rich, wherein the Lord hath set us, and therefore not to be content with it were to resist his will, and to become fighters against the Almighty.  Secondly, because howsoever we may seem to want things that are needful for us, yet are we not forsaken of the Lord; and indeed howsoever the world seeth it not, nor cannot, yet do we want no manner of thing that is good; for that of the prophet, Ps. 34:10, is always true, 'The lions lack and suffer hunger, but they which seek the Lord shall want nothing that is good;' good for them, and good for his glory.  Want we may many temporal blessings, and yet we want nothing that is good, be-cause the Lord knoweth it to be good that we want them.  Wanting, then, nothing that is good, what reason but we should be content?..... 
.....If he see it good to lift up our heads when we are low, he will; and again, if he bring us down from on high, he doth it because he seeth it good.  Howsoever, therefore, it be with us, let us be content.  'Your heavenly Father,' saith our blessed Saviour, Mat. 6:32, 'knoweth that ye have need of these things:' and again, chap. 7:11, 'If ye, which are evil, can give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good gifts to them that ask him?'  Doth our heavenly Father know what we have need of, and will he give us the things which we need?  If, then, we need health, he will send it if  it be good for us; if we need wealth, he will send it if it be good for us; if we need liberty, be will send it if it be good for us; if we need peace or love in the world, he will give it if it be good for us; and generally, whatsoever we need we shall have, if he see it to be good for us.  Let us not, therefore, with the covetous worldling, never think we have enough, nor, with the malcontented person, always mislike our present state, whatsoever it is.  He that openeth his hand, and filleth all things living with plenteousness, hath enough for us always in store, liberty enough, health enough, wealth enough, etc., to reach unto us if he see it good for us.  Let our eyes, therefore, always  wait upon him, and let us learn, in whatsoever state we are, therewith to be content.                               
                                                                                                                                              Henry Airay