Verse 1
Shall man direct the sovereign God,
Say, “He cannot use his rod
But for some fresh offence?
From saints he never hides his face,
Or suddenly their comforts slays,
To prove their innocence.”

Verse 2
Nay, but he casts the righteous down,
Seems on his belov’d to frown;
Yet smiles their fears to see:
He hears the oft-repeated cry
“Why, O my God, my Father, why
Hast thou forsaken me?”

Verse 3
Then let the patient, perfect man
His integrity maintain;
But not before his God:
The Lord may crush a sinless saint,
As once he left his Son to faint,
And die beneath his load.