HOU, who breakest every chain,
Thou, who still art ever near,
Thou, with whom disgrace and pain
Turn to joy and heaven e'en here;
Look upon our bonds and see
How doth all creation groan
'Neath the yoke of vanity,
Make Thy full redemption known!
2 Lord, we do not ask for rest
For the flesh, we only pray
Thou wouldst do as seems Thee best,
Ere yet comes our parting day.
But our spirit clings to Thee,
Will not, dare not, let Thee go,
Until Thou have set her free
From the bonds that cause her woe.
3 Draw us to Thy cross, O Love! Crucify with Thee whate'er
Cannot dwell with Thee above,
Lead us to those regions fair!
Courage! long the time may seem,
Yet His day is coming fast;
We shall be like them that dream
When our freedom dawns at last.
HY should I fear the darkest hour, Or tremble at the tempest's power? Jesus vouchsafes to be my tower.
2 Though hot the fight, why quit the field? Why must I either flee or yield,
Since Jesus is my mighty shield?
3 When earthly comforts fade and die,
The world may weep-but why should I?
Jesus still lives, and still is nigh.
4 Though sin would fill me with distress,
The throne of grace I dare address,
For Jesus is my righteousness.
5 Though faint my prayers, and cold my love,
My steadfast hope shall not remove
While Jesus intercedes above.
6 Against me earth and hell combine; But on my side is power divineJesus is all, and He is mine.
LEST be Thy love, dear Lord,
That taught us this sweet way,
Only to love Thee for Thyself,
And for that love obey.
2 O Thou, our souls' chief hope!
We to Thy mercy fly:
Where'er we are, Thou canst protect,
Whate'er we need, supply.
3 Whether we sleep or wake,
To Thee we both resign:
By night we see, as well as day,
If Thy light on us shine.
4 Whether we live or die,
Both we submit to Thee:
In death we live, as well as life,
If Thine in death we be.
ORD, it is not for us to care
Whether we die or live:
To love and serve Thee is our share,
And this Thy grace will give.
If life be long, O make us glad
The longer to obey;
If short, no labourer is sad
To end his toilsome day.
2 Christ leads us through no darker ways Than He went through before: Whoever for God's kingdom prays
Must enter by this door.
Come, Lord, when grace hath made us meet
Thy blessed face to see;
For if Thy work on earth be sweet,
What must Thy glory be!
3 There shall we end our sad complaints,
Our weary, sinful days,
And join with those triumphant saints
Who sing Thine endless praise.
Our knowledge of that life is small,
The eye of faith is dim:
Enough for us that Christ knows all,
And we shall be with Him!
E ask for life, and mean thereby
A few uncertain
The sunshine of a changeful sky
Over a vale of tears:
But Thou art better than our prayers,
And givest, in Thy love,
A shorter path through earthly cares,
A longer rest above.
2 We ask for life Thy work to do,
For Thee to toil and win,
To warn the many, save the few,
From sorrow and from sin:
In rolling years and fleeting breath
We think the boon must lie:
Thou teachest that a faithful death
Is highest victory.
ATHER, I stretch my hands to Thee,
No other help I know;
If Thou withdraw thyself from me,
O whither shall I go?
2 What did Thine only Son endure,
Before I drew my breath!
What pain, what labour to secure
My soul from endless death!
3 Author of faith, to Thee I lift
My weary longing eyes :
Preserve in me that precious gift—
My soul without it dies !
OME, O Thou Traveller unknown,
Whom still I hold, but cannot see,
My company before is gone,
And I am left alone with Thee:
With Thee all night I mean to stay,
And wrestle till the break of day.
2 Wilt Thou not yet to me reveal
Thy new, unutterable Name?
Tell me, I still beseech Thee, tell;
To know it now resolved I am:
Wrestling, I will not let Thee go,
Till I Thy Name, Thy nature know.
Yield to me now, for I am weak,
But confident in self despair;
Speak to my heart, in blessings speak,
Be conquered by my instant prayer:
Speak, or Thou never hence shalt move,
And tell me if Thy Name is Love.
4 My prayer hath power with God; the grace
Unspeakable I now receive;
Through faith I see Thee face to face,
I see Thee face to face, and live:
In vain I have not wept and strove ;
Thy nature, and Thy Name, is Love.
5 I know Thee, Saviour, who Thou art;
Jesus, the feeble sinner's Friend;
Nor wilt Thou with the night depart,
But stay, and love me to the end:
Thy mercies never shall remove,
Thy nature, and Thy Name, is Love!
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