Lady Sybil's Choice (Illustrated)

"Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know Him, not see His days?"
From the earliest ages of the world, the needs-be of suffering has been a mystery. Down to the latest, it will be a mystery still. Truly, the more we "know Him," the less mystery it is to us: for even where we cannot see, we can trust His love. Yet there are human analogies, which may throw some faint light on the dark question: and one of these will be found in the following pages. "What I do, thou knowest not now"—sometimes because it is morally impossible,—our finite capacity could not hold it: but sometimes, too, because we could not be trusted with the knowledge. In their case, there is one thing we can do—wait. "O thou of little faith!—wherefore didst thou doubt?"
"Oh restful, blissful ignorance!
'Tis blessed not to know.
It keeps me still in those kind arms
Which will not let me go,
And hushes my soul to rest
On the bosom that loves me so!
"So I go on, not knowing,—
I would not, if I might.
I would rather walk in the dark with God
Than walk alone in the light;
I would rather walk with Him by faith,
Than walk alone by sight.
"My heart shrinks back from trials
Which the future may disclose;
Yet I never had a sorrow
But what the dear Lord chose:
So I send the coming tears back
With the whispered word, 'He knows!'"