God's Face Smiling on My Soul

I want to seek more hope. 

• I do not want to rest satisfied with that little mite of confidence 
• which forms the whole stock of many of God’s children. 
• I want to seek the full assurance of hope,—
• that lively hope which makes me never ashamed.

I want to be a fellow traveller in the narrow way. 

• I want to be one who desires that my own hope may grow and increase every year that I live, 
• and I wish the hope of all my brethren to grow too. 
• I know and am persuaded that I write these things which are for my peace. 

As ever I would have a few days of darkness,—

• as ever I would feel God’s face smiling on my soul,—

As ever I would have joy and peace in believing,—

• by all my recollections of past short-comings,—
• by all my desires of comfort in time to come,—
• I want to seek the full assurance of hope.

Excerpt From

Startling Questions

J. C. Ryle