Dedication to God

658
The Heart given to God

1 OH happy day, that fix'd my choice On Thee, my Saviour, and my God;

Well may this glowing heart rejoice, And tell its raptures all abroad.

2 'Tis done! the great transaction's done:

I am my Lord's, and He is mine:

He drew me, and I follow'd on, Charm'd to confess the voice divine.

3 Now rest, my long-divided heart;

Fix'd on this blissful centre, rest: With ashes who would grudge to part, When call'd on angels' bread to feast?

4 High heaven, that heard the solemn vow, That vow renew'd shall daily hear:

Till in life's latest hour I bow, And bless in death a bond so dear.

Philip Doddridge, 1755

659
"We have left all, and have followed Thee."

1 JESUS, I my cross have taken, All to leave and follow Thee;

Destitute, despised, forsaken;

Thou, from hence, my all shalt be:

Let the world despise and leave me;

They have left my Saviour too:

Human hearts and looks deceive me;

Thou art not, like them, untrue.

2 Man may trouble and distress me, 'Twill but drive me to Thy breast;

Life with trials hard may press me, Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.

Oh! 'tis not in grief to harm me, While Thy love is left to me!

Oh! 'twere not in joy to charm me, Were that joy unmix'd with Thee!

3 Take, my soul, thy full salvation;

Rise o'er sin, and fear, and care;

Joy to find in every station, Something still to do or bear.

Soon shall close thy earthly mission, Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days;

Hope shall change to glad fruition, Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Henry Francis Lyte, 1825.

660
"My Beloved is mine, and I am His."

1 WHEN I had wander'd from His fold, His love the wanderer sought; When slave-like into bondage sold, His blood my freedom bought.

2 Therefore that life, by Him redeem'd, Is His through all its days; And as with blessings it hath teem'd, So let it teem with praise.

3 For I am His, and He is mine, The God whom I adore! My Father, Saviour, Comforter, Now and for evermore.

4 When sunk in sorrow, I despair'd, And changed my hopes for fears, He bore my griefs, my burden shared, And wiped away my tears.

5 Therefore the joy by Him restored, To Him by right belongs: And to my gracious loving Lord, I'll sing through life my songs:

6 For I am His, and He is mine, The God whom I adore! My Father, Saviour, Comforter, Now and for evermore!

John S. B. Monsell, 1863

661
“The Lord is my Portion."

1 FROM pole to pole let others roam, And search in vain for bliss; My soul is satisfied at home, The Lord my portion is.

2 Jesus, who on His glorious throne Rules heaven, and earth, and sea, Is pleased to claim me for His own, And give Himself to me.

3 His person fixes all my love, His blood removes my fear: And while He pleads for me above, His arm preserves me here.

4 His word of promise is my food, His Spirit is my guide:

Thus daily is my strength renew'd, And all my wants supplied.

6 For Him I count as gain each loss, Disgrace for Him renown;

Well may I glory in His cross, While He prepares my crown!

John Newton, 1779.

662
Choosing the better Part

1 BESET with snares on every hand, In life's uncertain path I stand:

Saviour divine, diffuse Thy light, To guide my doubtful footsteps right.

2 Engage this roving, treacherous heart To fix on Mary's better part, To scorn the trifles of a day For joys that none can take away.

3 Then let the wildest storms arise:

Let tempests mingle earth and skies; No fatal shipwreck shall I fear, But all my treasures with me bear.

4 If Thou, my Jesus, still be nigh, Cheerful I live, and joyful die;

Secure, when mortal comforts flee, To find ten thousand worlds in Thee!

Philip Doddridge, 1755.

663
Jesus, I am Thine!

1 JESUS, spotless Lamb of God, Thou hast bought me with Thy blood, I would value nought beside Jesus—Jesus crucified.

2 I am Thine, and Thine alone, This I gladly, fully own;

And, in all my works and ways, Only now would seek Thy praise.

3 Help me to confess Thy name, Bear with joy Thy cross and shame, Only seek to follow Thee, Though reproach my portion be.

4 When Thou shalt in glory come, And I reach my heavenly home, Louder still ray lips shall own I am Thine, and Thine alone.

James George Deck, 1837.

664
Safety and Consecration

1 HOW can I sink with such a prop As my eternal God, Who bears the earth's huge pillars up, And spreads the heavens abroad?

2 How can I die while Jesus lives, Who rose and left the dead?

Pardon and grace my soul receives From mine exalted Head.

3 All that I am, and all I hare, Shall be for ever Thine;

Whate'er my duty bids me give, My cheerful hands resign.

4 Yet if I might make some reserve, And duty did not call, I love my God with zeal so great, That I should give Him all.

Isaac Watts, 1709.