Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 81

Of life the only spring!

Creator of unnumbered worlds!

Supreme, Eternal King!

2 Drive from the confines of my heart Impenitence and pride; Nor let me, in forbidden paths, With thoughtless sinners glide.

3 Let not despair nor fell revenge Be to my bosom known: Oh! give me tears for others' woes, And patience for my own.

4 Feed me with necessary food; I ask not wealth or fame; Give me an eye to see thy will, A heart to bless thy name.

5 May still my days serenely pa.s.s, Without remorse or care; And growing holiness my soul For life's last hour prepare.

490. S. M. Methodist Coll.

For Holiness.

1 The thing my G.o.d doth hate That I no more may do, Thy creature, Lord, again create, And all my soul renew; Abhor the thing unclean, And, sanctified by love divine, Forever cease from sin.

2 That blessed law of thine, Father, to me impart; The Spirit's law of life divine, O write it in my heart!

Implant it deep within, Whence it may ne'er remove, The law of liberty from sin, The perfect law of love.

3 Thy nature be my law, Thy spotless sanct.i.ty, And sweetly every moment draw My happy soul to thee.

Soul of my soul remain!

Who didst for all fulfil, In me, O Lord, fulfil again My heavenly Father's will.

491. C. M. Wesley's Coll.

"Thy Kingdom Come."

1 Father of me and all mankind, And all the hosts above, Let every understanding mind Unite to praise thy love.

2 Thy kingdom come, with power and grace To every heart of man; Thy peace, and joy, and righteousness, In all our bosoms reign.

3 The righteousness that never ends, But makes an end of sin; The joy that human thought transcends, Into our souls bring in.

4 The kingdom of established peace, Which can no more remove; The perfect powers of G.o.dliness, Th' omnipotence of love.

492. S. M. Watts.

Seeking G.o.d.

1 My G.o.d, permit my tongue This joy, to call thee mine; And let my early cries prevail To taste thy love divine.

2 My thirsty, fainting soul Thy mercy does implore; Not travellers in desert lands Can pant for water more.

3 For life, without thy love, No relish can afford; No joy can be compared to this, To serve and please the Lord.

4 Since thou hast been my help, To thee my spirit flies, And on thy watchful providence My cheerful hope relies.

493. L. M. Montgomery.

"O G.o.d, my soul thirsteth for thee."

1 O G.o.d! thou art my G.o.d alone; Early to thee my soul shall cry, A pilgrim in a land unknown, A thirsty land, whose springs are dry.

2 Yet through this rough and th.o.r.n.y maze, I follow hard on thee, my G.o.d; Thine hand unseen upholds my ways; I lean upon thy staff and rod.

3 Thee, in the watches of the night, When I remember on my bed, Thy presence makes the darkness light; Thy guardian wings are round my head.

4 Better than life itself thy love, Dearer than all beside to me; For whom have I in heaven above, Or what on earth, compared with thee?

494. C. M. Doddridge.

The Knowledge of G.o.d.

1 Shine forth, Eternal Source of light!

And make thy glories known; Fill our enlarged, adoring sight With l.u.s.tre all thine own.

2 Vain are the charms, and faint the rays The brightest creatures boast; And all their grandeur and their praise Is in thy presence lost.

3 To know the Author of our frame Is our sublimest skill; True science is to read thy name, True life to obey thy will.

4 For this I long, for this I pray, And following on pursue, Till visions of eternal day Fix and complete the view.

495. L. M. 6l. Addison.

G.o.d our Shepherd.