Resigned to trust in God

John Bowring wrote the hymn below, which appeared without a title on page 251 of his Matins and Vespers with Hymns and Occasional Devotional Pieces (London: G. & W. B. Whittaker, 1823). Later hymn books have titled it variously as “Resignation,” “Trust in God, “Be Still to God,” and “Solid Rock.”

Bowring was born in Exeter October 17, 1792. He was a politician, linguist, translator, economist, and editor of The Westminster Review, among other things. He served as Governor of Hong Kong from 1854-1859. Bowring translated many foreign language poems into English metrical verse, and wrote some of his own original poetry.

John Bowring died November , 1872 in Claremont. He was buried in the Higher Cemetery of Exeter. 

1. O let my trembling soul be still,

While darkness veils this mortal eye;

And wait thy wise, thy holy will,

Wrapped yet in fears and mystery:

I cannot, Lord, thy purpose see;

But all is well—since ruled by thee.

2. When, mounted on thy clouded car,

Thou send’st thy darker spirits down,

I can discern thy light afar,

Thy light sweet beaming through thy frown:

And, should I faint a moment—then

I think of thee,—and smile again.

3. Thus trusting in thy love, I tread

The narrow path of duty on;

What though some cherished joys are fled,

What though some flattering dreams are gone?

Yet purer, brighter joys remain:

Why should my spirit then complain!

One tune paring for this hymn is The Solid Rock by William B. Bradbury, a hymn of 8s in 6 lines. Many hymnals use only the first and third stanzas. Some hymnals rearrange the 2nd and 4th lines of the hymn to change it to 8.6.8.6.8.8. meter.