Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion Part 37

Seeking G.o.d.

1 Thou hidden love of G.o.d, whose height, Whose depth unfathomed, no man knows; I see from far Thy beauteous light, Inly I sigh for Thy repose.

My heart is pained; nor can it be At rest, till it find rest in Thee.

2 Thy secret voice invites me still The sweetness of Thy yoke to prove; And fain I would; but though my will Seem fixed, yet wide my pa.s.sions rove; Yet hindrances strew all the way; I aim at Thee, yet from Thee stray.

3 'Tis mercy all, that Thou hast brought My mind to seek her peace in Thee; Yet, while I seek, but find Thee not, No peace my wandering soul shall see.

O, when shall all my wanderings end, And all my steps to Thee-ward tend!

4 Is there a thing beneath the sun, That strives with Thee my heart to share?

Ah! tear it thence, and reign alone, The Lord of every motion there!

Then shall my heart from earth be free, When it hath found repose in Thee.

220. P. M. Anonymous.

Lead Thou Me On!

1 Send kindly light amid the encircling gloom, And lead me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead Thou me on!

Keep Thou my feet: I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me.

2 I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou Shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now Lead Thou me on!

I loved day's dazzling light, and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will: remember not past years!

3 So long Thy power hath blessed me, surely still 'Twill lead me on Through dreary doubt, through pain and sorrow, till The night is gone, And with the morn those angel faces smile Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

221. L. M. Watts.

Devout Retirement and Meditation.

1 My G.o.d! permit me not to be A stranger to myself and Thee; Amidst a thousand thoughts I rove, Forgetful of my highest love.

2 Why should my pa.s.sions mix with earth, And thus debase my heavenly birth?

Why should I cleave to things below, And let my G.o.d, my Saviour, go?

3 Call me away from flesh and sense; One sovereign word can draw me thence; I would obey Thy voice divine, And all inferior joys resign.

4 Be earth, with all her strife, withdrawn; Let noise and vanity be gone; In secret silence of the mind, My heaven, and there my G.o.d, I find.

222. L. M. Moravian.

Aspiration.

1 O, Draw me, Father, after Thee!

So shall I run and never tire; With gracious words still comfort me; Be Thou my hope, my sole desire; Free me from every weight; nor fear Nor sin can come, if Thou art near.

2 From all eternity, with love Unchangeable Thou hast me viewed; Ere knew this beating heart to move, Thy tender mercies me pursued; Ever with me may they abide, And close me in on every side.

3 In suffering be Thy love my peace; In weakness be Thy love my power; And when the storms of life shall cease, O Father! in my latest hour, In death as life, be Thou my guide, And draw me closer to Thy side.

223. L. M. C. Wesley.

Spiritual Needs.

1 I Want the spirit of power within, Of love, and of a healthful mind: Of power to conquer every sin; Of love to G.o.d and all mankind; Of health that pain and death defies, Most vigorous when the body dies.

2 O, that the Comforter would come, Nor visit as a transient guest, But fix in me his constant home, And keep possession of my breast; And make my soul his loved abode, The temple of indwelling G.o.d!

224. C. M. C. Wesley.

Watchfulness.

1 I want a principle within Of jealous, G.o.dly fear; A sensibility to sin, A pain to find it near.

2 I want the first approach to feel Of pride, or fond desire; To catch the wandering of my will, And quench the kindling fire.

3 From Thee that I no more may part, No more Thy goodness grieve, The filial awe, the fleshly heart, The tender conscience give.

4 Quick as the apple of an eye, O G.o.d, my conscience make!

Awake my soul, when sin is nigh, And keep it still awake.

225. S. M. C. Wesley.

Spiritual Wants.