Adventist Pioneer Library

The Christian — Warfare and Pilgrimage

Through this dark valley of conflict and sin

  • No. 621
  • Words Annie R. Smith.
  • 3 stanzas
  • Words only in the original

Words

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1

Through this dark valley of conflict and sin,Trials without and temptations within,Onward to glory, still urge thy lone way,Joyful in hope of the long-promised day.In every danger thou hast a sure Guide,To every cloud there is yet a bright side;Falter then not at the sternest behest,Ever remember—'t is all for the best.

2

Just as the eagle, in teaching to fly,Forceth her young from their covert so high;Then if strength faileth, beneath them she flies,On her wings beareth them safe to the skies;So will the arm of Jehovah uphold:In each affliction his mercies unfold;Murmur then not that he stirreth thy nest,Ever remember—'t is all for the best.

3

Never of Providence dare to complain;Sunshine and storm both must ripen the grain;Tried is the gold that the purest will shine,Crushed is the vintage that yieldeth the wine.He who the end from beginning can tell,Works for thy good, for he doeth all well:This, that prepares for the mansions of rest,Ever remember—'t is all for the best.

About this hymn

As printed Words only. As printed: hymn number «621» (large), with NO reference line, in the left column of p. 203 below hymn 620 («Anon.»); the first half of stanza 1 stands at the foot of the left column, its second half («In every danger thou hast a sure Guide, …») and stanzas 2–3 fill the right column; «Annie R. Smith.» in italics after stanza 3. Stanzas numbered «1», «2», «3» (no period; written «1.» … here as in the other deliveries of this book); the eight lines of each stanza are printed flush (runover words indented). The first word «THROUGH» is set in capitals and small capitals; written in ordinary type here. «'t is» is printed with a thin space after the «t» and kept so (the convention of this book's deliveries). In the last line of stanza 3 the print has «Ever remember— is all for the best.»: the em dash is followed by an empty gap of about one word's width and then «is» — the «'t» of the refrain line («—'t is», as in stanzas 1 and 2) did not print; kept as printed, see uncertainties. The long ten-syllable verses are broken by the narrow column («conflict and / sin,», «covert so / high;», «beneath them / she flies,», «safe to the / skies;», «ripen the / grain;», «yieldeth the / wine.», «mansions of / rest,»); they are joined here, one verse per line. The print sets a thin space before «;» and «:» («uphold :», «unfold ;», «complain ;», «grain ;»); it is closed up here. Spelling, punctuation and capitals are the print's. No meter is printed (the text is 10s, eight lines, like TRIUMPH. 10s. P. of hymn 620 just above it).

Source
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book (Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1886/1888)
Where
The Christian — Warfare and Pilgrimage · No. 621 · printed page 203
Checked
lyrics verified (fork reading; parent check pending) · 2026-10-01