Acts 27:3: If Christ to try our faith ordain

If Christ to try our faith ordain,
The cruel hearts of faithless men
To nature's bent He leaves;
And then the persecuting foe,
Let loose his enmity to show,
Our flesh or spirit grieves.

But when our Lord intends to cheer
His poor afflicted confessor,
He doth the hate remove,
And soften'd then for His design,
Soldiers' and Heathen's hearts incline-
To gentleness and love.

Entreated with humanity,
Jesus Thy love's effect we sec,
Thine interposal own,
In enemies or strangers kind
The favour of our God we find,
And praise our God alone.
Paul admonished them, and said, &c. — xxvii. g, 1
In outward things, with faith endued
Full frequently we find
A present store of counsel good.
And readiness of mind.
The Spirit of faith and wisdom too
Makes future dangers known;
But if our Leader we pursue
We every evil shun.