Nor ask who thence shall bring it down to earth: That vaulted sky
Hath no such star, didst thou but know its worth.
Nor launch thy bark
In search thereof upon a shoreless sea,
No dove to bring this olive-branch to thee.
In search of that which wandering cannot win :
That Word is placed, thy very heart within.
5 O! seek it there,
Turn to its teachings with devoted will:
And in the power of faith this Law fulfil.
1 To Thee, my God, my days are known;
My soul enjoys the thought:
My actions are before Thy face,
Nor are my wants forgot.
2 Each secret wish devotion breathes
Is vocal to Thy ear;
And all my walks of daily life.
Before Thine eye appear.
3 The vacant hour, the active scene,
Thy mercy shall approve;
And every pang of sympathy,
And every care of love.
4 Each golden hour of beaming light
Is gilded by Thy rays;
And dark affliction's midnight gloom
A present God surveys.
5 Full in Thy view through life I pass, And in Thy view I die;
And, when each mortal bond is broke,
My God will still be nigh.
1 When, gracious Lord, when shall it be,
That I shall find my all in Thee?
The fulness of Thy promise prove;
The seal of Thy eternal love?
2 Thee, only Thee, I fain would find,
And cast the world, and flesh behind;
Thou, only Thou, to me be given,
Of all Thou hast in earth or heaven!
3 Lord, I am sick, my sickness cure;
I want, do Thou enrich the poor;
Under Thy mighty hand I stoop,
O lift the prostrate sinner up!
4 Lord, I am blind, -be Thou my sight;
Lord, I am weak,-be Thou my might:
A Helper of the helpless be,
And let me find my all in Thee!
1 Thou hidden love of God! 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 finds 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
Seems fixed, yet wide my passions rove;
Yet hindrances strew all the way;
I aim at Thee, yet from Thee stray.
3 T is 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:
Oh help! that I may never move
From the blest footsteps of Thy love!
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!
5 My God! Thy sovereign aid impart,
To save me from low-thoughted care!
Chase this self-will through all my heart,
Through all its latent mazes there:
In all things, nothing may I see,
Nothing desire or seek, but Thee!
6 Each moment draw from earth away
My heart, that lowly waits Thy call!
Speak to my inmost soul, and say,
"I am thy Life, thy God, thy All!"
To feel Thy power, to hear Thy voice,
To know Thy love, be all my choice!
1 Heavenly Father! to whose eye
Future things unfolded lie;
Through the desert, where I stray,
Let Thy counsels guide my way.
2 Lead me not, for flesh is frail,
Where fierce trials would assail :
Leave me not, in darkened hour,
To withstand the tempter's power.
3 Help Thy servant to maintain
A profession free from stain;
That my sole reproach may be
Following Christ, and fearing Thee!
4 Lord! uphold me day by day;
Shed a light upon my way:
Guide me through perplexing snares:
Care for me in all my cares.
5 Should Thy wisdom, Lord, decree
Trials long and sharp for me,
Pain or sorrow, care or shame,
Father! glorify Thy name!
6 Let me neither faint nor fear,
Feeling still that Thou art near;
In the course my Saviour trod,
Tending still to Thee, my God!
1 God of my life! and Author of my days!
Permit my feeble voice to lisp Thy praise;
And trembling take upon a mortal tongue
That hallowed name to harps of seraphs sung.
2 At Thy felt presence all emotions cease,
And my hushed spirit finds a sudden peace;
Till every worldly thought within me dies,
And earth's gay pageants vanish from my eyes.
3 But soon, alas! this holy calm is broke;
My soul submits to wear her wonted yoke;
With shackled pinions strives to soar in vain,
And mingles with the dross of earth again.
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