233

8.7.8.7 D. ORD, with glowing heart I'd praise thee

For the bliss thy love bestows, For the pardoning grace that saves me,

And the peace that from it flows; Help, O God, my weak endeavour;

This dull soul to rapture raise: Thou must light the flame, or never

Can my love be warmed to praise.

2 Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee,

Wretched wanderer, far astray; Found thee lost, and kindly brought thee

From the paths of death away; Praise, with love's devoutest feeling,

Him who saw thy guilt-born fear, And, the light of hope revealing,

Bade the blood-stained cross appear.

3 Lord, this bosom's ardent feeling

Vainly would my lips express: Low before thy footstool kneeling,

Deign thy suppliant's prayer to bless: Let thy grace, my soul's chief treasure,

Love's pure flame within me raise; And, since words can never measure, Let my life show forth thy praise. Amen.

Francis Scott Key, 1819

234

C.M. MY TY God, I love thee: not because

I hope for heaven thereby; Nor yet because if I love not

I must for ever die.

2 But, O my Jesus, thou didst me

Upon the cross embrace;
For me didst bear the nails and spear,

And manifold disgrace,

3 And griefs and torments numberless,

And sweat of agony,
E'en death itself; and all for me

Who was thine enemy.

4 Then why, O blessèd Jesus Christ,

Should í not love thee well?
Not for the hope of winning heaven,

Nor of escaping hell;
5 Not with the hope of gaining aught;

Not seeking a reward:
But as thyself hast loved me,

O ever-loving Lord!

6 E'en so I love thee, and will love,

And in thy praise will sing;
Solely because thou art my God,

And my eternal King. Amen.
Ascribed to Francis Xavier; Tr. Edward Caswall, 1849, alt,

235

Four 6's LOVE that casts out fear,

,

Tarry no more without,

But come and dwell within!

2 True sunlight of the soul,

Surround us as we go;
So shall our way be safe,

Our feet no straying know.

3 Great love of God, come in!

Wellspring of heavenly peace; Thou Living Water, comel

Spring up, and never cease.

4 Love of the living God,

Of Father and of Son;
Love of the Holy Ghost,
Fill thou each needy one. Amen.

Horatius Bonar, 1861

236

8.8.8.8.6 LOVE that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

2 O Light that followest all my way,

I yield my flickering torch to thee; My heart restores its borrowed ray, That in thy sunshine's blazo its day

May brighter, fairer be.

3 O Joy that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain

That morn shall tearless be.

4 0 Cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from thee; I lay in dust life's glory dead, And from the ground there blossoms red Life that shall endless be. Amen.

George Matheson, 1882

THE DIVINE MERCY 237

C.M.
W
THEN all thy mercies, O my God,

My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I'm lost

In wonder, love, and praise.
2 O how shall words with equal warmth

The gratitude declare,
That glows within my ravished heart?

But thou canst read it there.
3 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts

My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart,

That tastes those gifts with joy. 4 Through every period of my life

Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And after death, in distant worlds,

The glorious theme renew.
5 When nature fails, and day and night

Divide thy works no more,
My ever grateful heart, O Lord,

Thy mercy shall adore.
6 Through all eternity, to thee

A joyful song I'll raise;
But o eternity's too short
To utter all thy praise! Amen.

Joseph Addison, 1712, abr.

Six 6's

238

WHY life was given for me,

, , shed,

That I might ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead;

Thy life was given for me:
What have I given for thee?

2 Long years were spent for me

In weariness and woe,
That through eternity
Thy glory I might know.

Long years were spent for me:
Have I spent one for thee?

3 Thy Father's home of light,

Thy rainbow-circled throne,
Were left for earthly night,
For wanderings sad and lone.

Yea, all was left for me:
Have I left aught for thee?

4 And thou hast brought to me,

Down from thy home above,
Salvation full and free,
Thy pardon and thy love.

Great gifts thou broughtest me:
What have I brought to thee?

5 O let my life be given,

My years for thee be spent;
World fetters all be riven,
And joy with suffering blent;

Thou gavest thyself for me:
I give myself to thee. Amen.

Frances R. Havergal, 1858

239

7.6.7.6 D.
O Saviour of the lost,
Whose precious blood redeemed me

At such tremendous cost;
Thy righteousness, thy pardon,

Thy precious blood, must be
My only hope and comfort,

My glory and my plea.