2 I could not do without thee,

I cannot stand alone,
I have no strength or goodness,

No wisdom of my own;
But thou, beloved Saviour,

Art all in all to me,
And weakness will be power

If leaning hard on thee.
3 I could not do without thee,

For O the way is long,
And I am often weary,

And sigh replaces song:
How could I do without thee?

I do not know the way;
Thou knowest, and thou leadest,

And wilt not let me stray. 4 I could not do without thee,

O Jesus, Saviour dear;
E'en when my eyes are holden,

I know that thou art near.
How dreary and how lonely

This changeful life would be, Without the sweet communion,

The secret rest with thee! 5 I could not do without thee;

No other friend can read
The spirit's strange deep longings,

Interpreting its need;
No human heart could enter

Each dim recess of mine,
And soothe, and hush, and calm it,

O blessèd Lord, but thine. 6 I could not do without thee,

For years are fleeting fast,
And soon in solemn loneness

The river must be passed;

But thou wilt never leave me,

And though the waves roll high,
I know thou wilt be near me,
And whisper, “It is I." Amen.

Frances R. Havergal, 1873

T

240

8.7.8.7 D. NHERE'S a wideness in God's mercy

Like the wideness of the sea; There's a kindness in his justice,

Which is more than liberty. There is welcome for the sinner,

And more graces for the good; There is mercy with the Saviour;

There is healing in his blood.

2 There is no place where earth's sorrows

Are more felt than up in heaven; There is no place where earth's failings

Have such kindly judgment given. There is plentiful redemption

In the blood that has been shed; There is joy for all the members

In the sorrows of the Head.

3 For the love of God is broader

Than the measure of man's mind;
And the heart of the Eternal

Is most infinitely kind.
If our love were but more simple,

We should take him at his word;
And our lives would be all sunshine
In the sweetness of the Lord.

Frederick W. Faber, 1862, cento

241

8.6.8.8.6 E TERNAL Light! Eternal Light!

How pure that soul must be, When, placed within thy searching sight, It shrinks not, but with calm delight

Can live, and look on thee.

2 The spirits that surround thy throne

May bear the burning bliss;
But surely that is theirs alone
Who, undefiled, have never known

A fallen world like this.

3 O how shall I, whose native sphere

Is dark, whose mind is dim, Before the Ineffable appear, And on my naked spirit bear

The uncreated beam?

4 There is a

ay for man to rise
To that sublime abode:
An offering and a sacrifice,
A Holy Spirit's energies,

An Advocate with God:

5 These, these prepare us for the sight

Of holiness above:
The sons of ignorance and night
May dwell in the eternal Light,
Through the eternal Love!

Thomas Binney, c. 1826

242

C.M.D.
HEARD the voice of Jesus say,

Come unto me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down

Thy head upon my breast.

I came to Jesus as I was,

Weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting-place,

And he has made me glad.
2 I heard the voice of Jesus say,

Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,

Stoop down and drink, and live.
I came to Jesus, and I drank

Of that life-giving stream; My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,

And now I live in him. 3 I heard the voice of Jesus say,

I am this dark world's light;
Look unto me, thy morn shall rise,

And all thy day be bright.
I looked to Jesus, and I found

In him my Star, my Sun;
And in that light of life I'll walk
Till traveling days are done.

Horatius Bonar, 1846

243

8.7.8.7 SAV AVIOUR, source of every blessing,

Tune my heart to grateful lays; Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for ceaseless songs of praise. 2 Teach me some melodious measure,

Sung by raptured saints above; Fill my soul with sacred pleasure,

While I sing redeeming love. 3 Thou didst seek me when a stranger,

Wandering from the fold of God; Thou, to save my soul from danger,

Didst redeem me with thy blood.

4 By thy hand restored, defended,

Safe through life thus far I've come; Safe, O Lord, when life is ended, Bring me to my heavenly home. Amen.

Robert Robinson, 1768, alt.

DIVINE GUIDANCE

244

10.4.10.4.10.10

Leglookindly Light

, amid the encircling

Lead thou 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 the garish day; and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will: remember not past

years.

3 So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still

Will lead me on O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till

The night is gone; And with the morn those angel faces smile, Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile. Amen.

John Henry Newman, 1899