THESE many years! What lessons they unfold
Of grace and guidance through the wilderness,
From the same God that Israel of old
In the Shekinah glory did possess !
How faithful He, through all my griefs and fears
And constant murmurings, these many years !

God of the Covenant! From first to last,
From when I stood within that sprinkled door,
And o'er my guilt the avenging angel passed,
Thy better angel hath gone on before ;
And naught but goodness all the way appears,
Unmerited and free, these many years !

Thy presence wrought a pathway through the sea ;
Thy presence made the bitter waters sweet ;
And daily have Thy hands prepared for me
Sweet, precious morsels - lying at my feet.
'Twas but to stoop and taste the grace that cheers,
And start refreshed, through all these many years !

What time I thirsted and earth's streams were dry,
What time I wandered and my hope was gone,
Thy hand hath brought a pure and full supply,
And, by a loving pressure, lured me on.
How oft that hand hath wiped away my tears
And written "Pardoned!" all these many years !

And what of discipline Thy love ordained
Fell ever gently on this heart of mine ;
Around its briers was my spirit trained
To bring forth fruits of righteousness Divine ;
Wisdom in every check, and love appears
In every stroke, throughout these many years !

Lord, what I might have been, my spirit knows -
Rebellious, petulant, and prone to stray ;
Lord, what I am, in spite of flesh and foes,
I owe to grace that kept me in the way.
Thine be the glory! Merit disappears,
As back I look upon these many years.

Thine be the glory! Thou shalt have the praise
For all Thy dealings, to my latest breath ;
A daily "Ebenezer" will I raise,
And sing "Salvation" through the vale of death -
To where the crown, the golden harp appears,
There to rehearse Thy love through endless years !