Christ My Song - 966

When all outward comfort flies - The Ever-present Helper
(Charlotte Elliott/Johannes Thomas Rüegg)

The Ever-present Helper.

"Lord, be thou my helper." (Psalm 33,10)

1. When all outward comfort flies,
  and my heart within me dies,
    hear, oh hear my trembling sighs:
          help me, O my Saviour! PDF - Midi

2. When the day brings pain and grief,
  night, nor respite, nor relief,
    whisper – "These dark hours are brief:"
          help me, O my Saviour!

3. When all human help proves vain,
  and my agonising pain
    more than nature can sustain:
          help me, O my Saviour!

4. Suffer not my faith to fail,
  let not Satan's darts assail,
    lift the intercepting veil:
          help me, O my Saviour!

5. When, oppressed with feverish heat,
  I can scarce one text repeat,
    say, I am in thee complete:
          help me, O my Saviour!

6. When the means for pain's redress
  seem to aggravate distress,
    then draw near – my faith increase:
          help me, O my Saviour!

7. When the long and suffering night
  makes me weary for the light,
    fix upon thy cross my sight:
          help me, O my Saviour!

8. Lest I faint beneath the rod,
  say – "This very path  I  trod;
    thus  t h o u  glorifiest God:"
          help me, O my Saviour!

9. Let me not on man depend,
  but on thee, the unfailing Friend:
    be thou near me to the end:
          help me, O my Saviour!

10. Thou, thou only canst relieve me!
  till thine arms of love receive me,
    whisper – "I will never leave thee!"
          Help me, O my Saviour!

Charlotte Elliott, Selections from the Poems of Charlotte Elliott, 242-243.