Thou Guidest Poem by Martin Farquhar Tupper

Father,- Maker, God and Guide!
Who dost all my wants provide,
Ever by Thy servant's side
Thou guidest;

And amid this worldly maze
I can yield Thee thankful praise,
That in love my works and ways
Thou guidest.

Man, for all his reason's right,
Often in his will's despite,
Must rejoice that, day and night,
Thou guidest;

He may counsel, scheme, and plan,
But a Higher far than man
Ordereth all he never can,-
Thou guidest!

We propose, and do our best,
Then to Thee we leave the rest,
For Thy wisdom is the test,-
Thou guidest;

Disappointments make us feel
That what we had urged with zeal
Was not truly for our weal,-
Thou guidest:

Thus we soon their lesson learn,
When to Thee our hearts we turn,
And the glorious truth discern-
Thou guidest!

Insufficient left alone,
We are clinging round Thy throne,
And while there Thy fulness own,
Thou guidest;

Every word and deed and thought,
To be ordered as it ought,
Must of Thee be train'd and taught,-
Thou guidest;

And though oft-times warp'd from right
Sinfully in good's despite,
Still in mercy and in might,
Thou guidest.

Out of ill Thou bringest good,
And, though little understood,
To Creation's gratitude-
Thou guidest;

Yea, the universe may tell
That Thou doest all things well,
For where'er Thy creatures dwell
Thou guidest!