The AFTERWARD TIME is a wonderful time,
A time of rejoicing and gain;
A time for enjoying the fruit of the trial,
The fruit, which shall ever remain.
Look on, precious one, to the AFTERWARD TIME,
Forgetting the things that are past,
For God is preparing a blessing for you,
The trial will not always last.
God fashions and molds for the AFTERWARD TIME,
'Tis the latter end He's looking to,
When out of the bounty and love of His heart,
He may double His blessings to you.
Beloved, "The Lord doth not willingly grieve,"
Nor afflict any one of His own,
For 'tis "Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth," sore,
Still His pity and mercy are shown.
When God in His wisdom the chastening sends,
He has but one purpose in view,
And that is to shower more than ever before
His manifold mercies on you.
There is, precious one, a bright AFTERWARD TIME,
His compassions each morning are new.
In wisdom and mercy, and infinite love,
He is laying up blessings for you.
The Lord looks ahead to this AFTERWARD TIME,
The time of rich blessing and gain;
When it proves "for our profit'' the trial was sent,
May it never be suffered in vain!
May we look on, too, in the midst of the trial,
To the glorious AFTERWARD TIME,
When God in His grace, double blessings bestows,
With joy and rejoicing sublime.