Father, when over our trembling hearts

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Father, when over our trembling hearts

Author: Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch
Tune: SHELLEY (51112)
Published in 12 hymnals

Representative Text

Father, when o’er our trembling hearts
Doubt’s shadows gathering brood,
When faith in Thee almost departs,
And gloomiest fears intrude;
Forsake us not, O God of grace,
But send those fears relief;
Grant us again to see Thy face;
Lord, help our unbelief!

When sorrow comes, and joys are flown,
And fondest hopes lie dead,
And blessings, long esteemed our own,
Are now forever fled;
When the bright promise of our spring
Is but a withered leaf,
Lord, to Thy truths still let us cling;
Help Thou our unbelief!

And when the powers of nature fail
Upon the couch of pain,
Nor love nor friendship can avail
The spirit to detain;
Then, Father, be our closing eyes
Undimmed by tears of grief;
And, if a trembling doubt arise,
Help Thou our unbelief!

Source: A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (15th ed.) #213

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Author: Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch

Bulfinch, Stephen Greenleaf, D.D. This Unitarian minister was born at Boston, June 18, 1809, and removed to Washington in 1818, his father being the architect of the Capitol. He graduated at Columbian College and the Cambridge Theological School. In 1831 lie was ordained at Charleston, S.C., as assistant to Dr. Gilman. Subsequently he was pastor at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Washington, 1838; Nashua, New Hampshire, 1845; Dorchester, Mass., 1852; and "East Cambridge, Mass., 1865. He died at the last place, Oct. 12, 1870. His works include:— (1) Contemplations of the Saviour; A Series of Extracts from the Gospel History, with Reflections and Original and Selected Hymns. Boston, Carter and Hendee, 1832. This has been reprinted in England. (… Go to person page >

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