To delight and solace man

1 To delight and solace man,
Hope descended from on high;
Hence his pleasures first began,
Pleasures which shall never die.

2 As he journeys day by day;
As he plods his course along;
To beguile the rugged way,
Hope attunes her sweetest song.

3 If his path with ills is sown;
If he wear the brow of care;
If he 'neath his burden groan,
Hope his drooping heart will cheer.

4 If he on the ocean sail;
If he traverse burning sands;
Lest foreboding fears prevail,
Hope, his angel, near him stands.

5 When amid the stormy blast,
Hope is then his anchor strong;
And until the danger's past,
Soothes him with her sweetest song.

6 "Soon the tempest will be o'er,
Soon you'll hail the rising sun:
Brighter days are yet in store--
Even now their dawn's begun."

7 Thus with her inspiring lay,
Mid the gloom of cheerless night,
Hope predicts a happy day,
Rising with refulgent light.

Source: The Minstrel of Zion: a book of religious songs, accompanied with appropriate music, chiefly original #189