The Golden Book of Communion with Jesus

764

Sweet Communion

1 I WOULD commune with Thee, my God;

E'en to Thy seat I come;

I leave my joys, I leave my sins, And seek in Thee my home.

2 I stand upon the mount of God, With sunlight in my soul;

I hear the storms in vales beneath;

I hear the thunders roll:

3 But I am calm with Thee, my God, Beneath these glorious skies; And to the heights on which I stand, Nor storms nor clouds can rise.

4 Oh, this is life! Oh, this is joy, My God, to find Thee so;

Thy face to see, Thy voice to hear, And all Thy love to know.

George Burden Bubier, 1856.

765 Retirement and Meditation

1 MY God, permit me not to be A stranger to myself and Thee;

Amidst a thousand thoughts I rove, Forgetful of my highest love.

2 Why should my passions mix with earth, And thus debase my heavenly birth?

Why should I cleave to things below, And let my God, my Saviour, go?

3 Call me away from flesh and sense;

One sovereign word can draw me thence;

I would obey the voice divine, And all inferior joys resign.

4 Be earth with all her scenes withdrawn;

Let noise and vanity be gone: In secret silence of the mind My heaven, and there my God, I find.

Isaac Watts, 1709.

766 "When wilt Thou comet"

1 WHEN wilt Thou come unto me, Lord?

Oh come, my Lord most dear!

Come near, come nearer, nearer still, I'm blest when Thou art near.

2 When wilt thou come unto me, Lord?

I languish for the sight;

Ten thousand sun when Thou art hid, Are shades instead of light.

3 When wilt Thou come unto me, Lord?

Until Thou dost appear, I count each moment for a day.

Each minute for a year.

4 There's no such thing as pleasure here, My Jesus is my all; As Thou dost shine or disappear, My pleasures rise or fall.

5 Come, spread Thy savour on my frame, No sweetness is so sweet;

Till I get up to sing Thy name, Where all Thy singers meet.

Thomas Shepherd, 1692.

767

Jesus only

1 EVER to the Saviour cling, Trust in Him and none beside;

Never let an earthly thing Hide from thee the Crucified.

2 Ever cast on Him thy care, He invites thee so to do;

Never let thy soul despair, He will surely help thee through.

3 Ever live as in the view Of the day of glory, near;

Never be to Christ untrue, Thou shalt soon His glory share.

Albert Midlane, 1864

768

None but Jesus

1 OH might this worthless heart of mine, The Saviour's temple be!

Emptied of every love but Thine, And shut to all but Thee!

2 I long to find Thy presence there, I long to see Thy face;

Almighty Lord, my heart prepare The Saviour to embrace.

Augustus M. Toplady, 1759

769 Emptied of Earth

1 EMPTIED of earth I fain would be, Of sin, myself, and all but Thee;

Only reserved for Christ that died, Surrender'd to the Crucified:

2 Sequester'd from the noise and strife, The lust, the pomp, and pride of life; For heaven alone my heart prepare, And have my conversation there.

3 Nothing, save Jesus, would I know; My friend and my companion Thou!

Lord, seize my heart, assert Thy right, And put all other loves to flight.

4 The idols tread beneath Thy feet, And to Thyself the conquest get:

Let sin no more oppose my Lord, Slain by the Spirit's two-edged sword.

5 Larger communion let me prove With Thee, blest object of my love;

But, oh! for this no power have I; My strength is at Thy feet to lie.

Augustus M. Toplady, 1759

770

Go up, my Heart

1 GO up, go up, my heart, Dwell with thy God above; For here thou canst not rest, Nor here give out thy love.

2 Go up, go up, my heart, Be not a trifler here:

Ascend above these clouds, Dwell in a higher sphere.

3 Let not thy love flow out To things so soil'd and dim;

Go up to heaven and God, Take up thy love to Him.

4 Waste not thy precious stores On creature-love below; To God that wealth belongs, On Him that wealth bestow.

Horatius Bonar. 1856

771 Jesus' Presence desired

1 LORD, let me see Thy beauteous face!

It yields a heaven below; And angels round the throne will say, 'Tis all the heaven they know.

2 A glimpse—a single glimpse of Thee, Would more delight my soul Than this vain world, with all its joys, Could I possess the whole.

Beddome and Rippon, 1800.

772 "They saw no man, save Jesus."

1 O PATIENT, spotless One! Our hearts in meekness train, To bear Thy yoke, and learn of Thee, That we may rest obtain.

2 Jesus! Thou art enough The mind and heart to fill;

Thy life to calm the anxious soul, Thy love its fear dispel.

3 Oh fix our earnest gaze, So wholly, Lord, on Thee, That with Thy beauty occupied, We elsewhere none may see.

Hymns for the Children of God, 1851.

773

Take my Heart

1 LOOK upon me, Lord, I pray Thee, Let Thy Spirit dwell in mine;

Thou hast sought me, Thou hast bought me Only Thee to know I pine.

Let me find Thee!

Take my heart, and own me Thine!

2 Nought I ask for, nought I strive for, But thy grace so rich and free; That Thou givest whom Thou lovest, And who truly cleave to Thee.

Let me find Thee, He hath all things who hath Thee.

Joachim Neander, 1673; tr. by Catherine Winkworth, 1858, a

774 God all, and in all

1 MY God, my life, my love, To Thee, to Thee I call:

I cannot live, if Thou remove, For Thou art all in all.

2 Thy shining grace can cheer This dungeon where I dwell;

'Tis paradise when Thou art here, If Thou depart, 'tis hell.

3 The smilings of Thy face, How amiable they are!

'Tis heaven to rest in Thine embrace, And nowhere else but there.

4 To Thee, and Thee alone, The angels owe their bliss;

They sit around Thy gracious throne, And dwell where Jesus is.

5 Not all the harps above Can make a heavenly place, If God His residence remove, Or but conceal His face.

6 Nor earth, nor all the sky, Can one delight afford;

No, not a drop of real joy, Without Thy presence, Lord.

7 Thou art the sea of love, Where all my pleasures roll; The circle where my passions move, And centre of my soul.

8 To Thee my spirits fly With infinite desire; And yet, how far from Thee I lie!

Dear Jesus, raise me higher.

Isaac Watts, 1709.

775 God my exceeding Joy

1 WHERE God doth dwell, sure heaven is there, And singing there must be:

Since. Lord, Thy presence makes my heaven, Whom should I sing but Thee?

2 My God, my reconciled God, Creator of my peace;

Thee will I love, and praise, and sing, Till life and breath shall cease.

3 My soul doth magnify the Lord, My spirit doth rejoice; To Thee, my Saviour and my God, I lift my joyful voice;

4 I need not go abroad for joys, I have a feast at home; My sighs are turned into songs, My heart has ceased to roam.

5 Down from above the blessed Dove Is come into my breast, To witness Thine eternal love, And give my spirit rest.

6 My God, I'll praise Thee while I live, And praise Thee when I die, And praise Thee when I rise again, And to eternity.

John Mason, 1683, a.

776 My sole Delight.

1 MY God, my God! who art my All, Where art Thou to be found?

Thy presence is my sole abode, My comforts there abound.

2 My wishes terminate above;

Thou art my whole delight;

Why dost Thou hide Thy holy face, And roll Thyself in night?

3 Nor friends, nor comforts shall I wish, Nor pleasures want to know;

Thou art the source of perfect bliss, Thou art a heaven below.

4 More welcome would be Thy return, Of greater far delight, Than to the pilgrim beauteous morn, Who wander'd all the night.

William Williams, 1759

777 Perfect Happiness in the Cross

1 LONG plunged in sorrow, I resign My soul to that dear hand of Thine, Without reserve or fear; That hand shall wipe my streaming eyes, Or into smiles of glad surprise Transform the falling tear.

2 My sole possession is Thy love; In earth beneath, or heaven above, I have no other store;

And, though with fervent suit I pray, And importune Thee night and day, I ask Thee nothing more.

3 Adieu! ye vain delights of earth, Insipid sports, and childish mirth, I taste no sweets in you;

Unknown delights are in the cross, All joy beside to me is dross, And Jesus thought so too.

4 The cross! Oh, ravishment and bliss, How grateful e'en its anguish is, Its bitterness, how sweet!

There every sense, and all the mind, In all her faculties refined, Taste happiness complete.

Jeanne Marie Guyon, 1722; tr. by William Cowper, 1801

778 At Home everywhere with Jesus

1 O THOU, by long experience tried, Near whom no grief can long abide; My Love! how full of sweet content I pass my years of banishment!

2 All scenes alike engaging prove To souls impress'd with sacred love!

Where'er they dwell, they dwell in Thee! In heaven, in earth, or on the sea.

3 To me remains no place nor time; My country is in every clime;

I can be calm and free from care On any shore, since God is there.

4 While place we seek or place we shun, The soul finds happiness in none; But with a God to guide our way, "Us equal joy to go or stay.

5 Could I be cast where Thou art not, That were indeed a dreadful lot; But regions none remote I call, Secure of finding God in all.

Jeanne Marie Guyon, 1722; tr. by William Cowper, 1801

779 Perfect Safety in Jesus

1 MY country, Lord, art Thou alone; Nor other can I claim or own: The point where all my wishes meet; My law, my love, life's only sweet!

2 I hold by nothing here below;

Appoint my journey, and I go;

Though pierced by scorn, oppress'd by pride, I feel Thee good—feel nought beside.

3 No frowns of men can hurtful prove To souls on fire with heavenly love;

Though men and devils both condemn, No gloomy days arise from them.

4 Ah, then! to His embrace repair; My soul, thou art no stranger there:

There love divine shall be thy guard, And peace and safety thy reward.

Jeanne Marie Guyon, 1790; tr. by William Cowper, 1801

780 Jesus our Heart's Theme

1 I THINK of Thee, my God, by night, And talk of Thee by day, Thy love my treasure and delight, Thy truth my strength and stay.

2 The day is dark, the night is long, Unblest with thoughts of Thee, And dull to me the sweetest song, Unless its theme Thou be.

3 So all day long, and all the night, Lord, let Thy presence be, Mine air, my breath, my shade, my light, Myself absorb'd in Thee.

John S. B. Monsell, 1863

781 Grief that others love not Jesus

1 AH! reign wherever man is found, My Spouse beloved and divine!

Then I am rich, and I abound, When every human heart is Thine.

2 A thousand sorrows pierce my soul, To think that all are not Thine own:

Ah! be adored from pole to pole! Where is thy zeal? arise; be known!

3 All hearts are cold, in every place, Yet earthly good with warmth pursue;

Dissolve them with a flash of grace, Thaw these of ice, and give us new!

Jeanne Marie Guyon, 1790; tr. by William Cowper, 1801.

782 The unsearchable Love of God.

1 O LOVE of God, how strong and true!

Eternal, and yet ever new, Uncomprehended and unbought, Beyond all knowledge and all thought.

2 We read Thee best in Him who came To bear for us the cross of shame;

Sent by the Father from on high, Our life to live, our death to die.

3 We read Thy power to bless and save, Even in the darkness of the grave;

Still more in resurrection light, We read the fulness of Thy might.

4 O love of God, our shield and stay, Through all the perils of our way;

Eternal love, in Thee we rest, For ever safe, for ever blest!

Horatius Sonar, 1861

783 "My Spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."

1 TO Thee, O dear, dear Saviour! My spirit turns for rest, My peace is in Thy favour, My pillow on Thy breast.

2 Though all the world deceive me, I know that I am Thine, And Thou wilt never leave me, O blessed Saviour, mine.

3 O Thou whose mercy found me, From bondage set me free, And then for ever bound me, With three-fold cords to Thee.

4 Oh for a heart to love Thee More truly as I ought, And nothing place above Thee, In deed, or word, or thought.

5 Oh for that choicest blessing Of living in Thy love, And thus on earth possessing, The peace of heaven above.

John S. B. Monsell, 1863.

784 Condescending Love

1 OH see how Jesus trusts Himself Unto our childish love, As though by His free ways with us Our earnestness to prove!

2 His sacred name a common word On earth He loves to hear;

There is no majesty in Him Which love may not come near.

3 The light of love is round His feet, His paths are never dim! And He comes nigh to us when we Dare not come nigh to Him.

4 Let us be simple with Him, then, Not backward, stiff, or cold, As though our Bethlehem could be What Sina was of old.

Frederick W. Faber, 1852.

785 "Whom having not seen we love."

1 Jesus, these eyes have never seen That radiant form of Thine! The veil of sense hangs dark between Thy blessed face and mine!

2 I see Thee not, I hear Thee not, Yet art Thou oft with me; And earth hath ne'er so dear a spot. As where I meet with Thee.

3 Like some bright dream that comes unsought, When slumbers o'er me roll, Thine image ever fills my thought, And charms my ravish'd soul.

4 Yet though I have not Been, and still Must rest in faith alone;

I love Thee, dearest Lord! and will, Unseen, but not unknown.

5 When death these mortal eyes shall seal And still this throbbing heart, The rending veil shall Thee reveal, All glorious as Thou art!

Ray Palmer, 1858.

786 "Thy Name is as Ointment poured forth."

1 JESUS, the very thought of Thee With sweetness fills my breast; But sweeter far Thy face to see, And in Thy presence rest.

2 Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame, Nor can the memory find, A sweeter sound than Thy blest name, O Saviour of mankind!

3 Oh, hope of every contrite heart!

Oh, joy of all the meek! To those who fall, how kind Thou art!

How good to those who seek!

4 But what to those who find? Ah! this Nor tongue nor pen can show; The love of Jesus—what it is, None but His loved ones know.

5 Jesus, our only joy be Thou, As Thou our crown wilt be;

Jesus, be Thou our glory now, And through eternity.

Bernard of Clairvaux, 1153; tr. by Edward Caswall, 1849.

787 Most glorious King

1 O JESU, King most wonderful, Thou Conqueror renown'd, Thou sweetness most ineffable, In whom all joys are found!

2 When once Thou visitest the heart, Then truth begins to shine, Then earthly vanities depart, Then kindles love divine.

3 O Jesu, Light of all below, Thou Fount of living fire, Surpassing all the joys we know, And all we can desire

4 Jesu, may all confess Thy name, Thy wondrous love adore;

And, seeking Thee, themselves inflame To seek Thee more and more.

5 Thee, Jesu, may our voices bless:

Thee may we love alone: And ever in our lives express The image of Thine own.

Edward Caswall, 1849.

788 "We love Him because He first loved us."

1 MY God, I love Thee; not because I hope for heaven thereby, Nor yet because who love Thee not Must burn eternally.

2 Thou, O my Jesus, Thou didst me Upon the cross embrace; For me didst bear the nails, and spear, And manifold disgrace.

3 And griefs, and torments numberless, And sweat of agony;

Yea, death itself; and all for me Who was Thine enemy.

4 Then why, O blessed Jesu Christ, Should I not love Thee well? Not for the hope of winning heaven, Nor of escaping hell;

5 Not with the hope of gaining aught, Not seeking a reward; But as Thyself hast loved me, O ever-loving Lord.

6 So would I love Thee, dearest Lord, And in Thy praise will sing;

Solely because Thou art my God, And my Eternal King.

Francis Xavier, 1552. tr. by Edward Caswall, 1849

789 We love Him for Himself..

1 BLEST 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.

John Austin, 1668

790 Christ or nothing

1 IF my Lord Himself reveal, No other good I want;

Only Christ my wounds can heal, Or silence my complaint.

2He that suffer'd in my stead, Shall my Physician be:

I will not be comforted Till Jesus comforts me.

Augustus M. Toplady, 1759

791 Jesus and His Righteousness prized

1 THE more my conduct I survey, Or Thee my Master see, My own sufficience dies away, I find my need of Thee.

2 Were I a martyr at the stake I'd plead my Saviour's name:

Intreat a pardon for His sake, And urge no other claim.

3 If blest with that exalted love Which tunes a seraph's tongue;

Yet from the cross I would not move, For there my hopes are hung.

4 Could I get nearer to the throne Than is the common length, My soul with gratitude should own, 'Tis done by borrow'd strength.

5 O Thou, the antidote of fear, The charmer of my heart; My comforts bloom when Thou art near, And fade if Thou depart.

6 Let others boast whate'er they please, Their hopes I'll not contest:

Smile Thou and I can live at ease, Or die divinely blest.

Thomas Greene, 1780.

1 THE more my conduct I survey, Or Thee my Master see, My own sufficience dies away, I find my need of Thee.

2 Were I a martyr at the stake I'd plead my Saviour's name:

Intreat a pardon for His sake, And urge no other claim.

3 If blest with that exalted love Which tunes a seraph's tongue;

Yet from the cross I would not move, For there my hopes are hung.

4 Could I get nearer to the throne Than is the common length, My soul with gratitude should own, 'Tis done by borrow'd strength.

5 O Thou, the antidote of fear, The charmer of my heart; My comforts bloom when Thou art near, And fade if Thou depart.

6 Let others boast whate'er they please, Their hopes I'll not contest:

Smile Thou and I can live at ease, Or die divinely blest.

Thomas Greene, 1780

792

Christ is all.

1 COMPARED with Christ, in all beside No comeliness I see; The one thing needful, dearest Lord, Is to be one with Thee.

2 The sense of Thy expiring love Into my soul convey:

Thyself bestow; for Thee alone I absolutely pray.

3 Less than Thyself will not suffice, My comfort to restore:

More than Thyself I cannot crave, And Thou canst give no more.

4 Loved of my God, for Him again With love intense I burn:

Chosen of Thee e'er time began, I choose Thee in return.

5 Whate'er consists not with Thy love, Oh teach me to resign:

I'm rich to all the intents of bliss, If Thou, O God, art mine.

Augustus M. Toplady, 1772.

793 Idols destroyed and Jesus loved

1 SOON as faith the Lord can see Bleeding on a cross for me, Quick my idols all depart, Jesus gets and fills my heart.

2 None among the sons of men, None among the heavenly train, Can with Jesus then compare, None so sweet, and none so fair!

3 Then my tongue would fain express All His love and loveliness; But I lisp, and falter forth Broken words, not half His worth.

4 Vex'd I try and try again, Still my efforts all are vain:

Living tongues are dumb at best, We must die to speak of Christ.

John Berridge, 1785

794 Jesus our only Care 1 CAN my heaven-born soul submit To care for things below?

Nay, but never from the feet Of Jesus may I go:

2 Anxious, Lord, for nothing here, Alone I look to Thee:

Humbly cast my ev'ry care On Him that cares for me.

Augustus M. Toplady, 1759, a

795 Jesus our chief Delight

1 JESUS, my Lord, my chief delight, For Thee I long, for Thee I pray, Amid the shadows of the night, Amid the business of the day.

2 When shall I see Thy smiling face, That face which often I have seen?

Arise, Thou Sun of Righteousness, Scatter the clouds that intervene.

3 Thou art the glorious gift of God To sinners weary and distress'd; The first of all His gifts bestow'd, And certain pledge of all the rest.

4 Could I but say this gift is mine, The world should lie beneath my feet;

Though poor, no more would I repine, Or look with envy on the great.

5 The precious jewel I would keep, And lodge it deep within my heart; At home, abroad, awake, asleep, It never should from thence depart!

Benjamin Beddome, 1818.

796 Desiring to abide with Jesus

1 OH, let my Jesus teach me how I may in Him abide; From wandering save my foolish heart, And keep it near Thy side.

2 Thy side is all the tower I have To screen me from my foes, And in that side a fountain is, Which healeth human woes.

3 Put round my heart Thy cord of love, It hath a kindly sway, But bind me fast, and draw me still, Still nearer every day.

John Berridge, 1785

797 "Who loved me, and gave Himself for me"

1 O LOVE divine, how sweet Thou art! When shall I find my willing heart All taken up by Thee?

I thirst, I faint, I die to prove The greatness of redeeming lore, The love of Christ to me!

2 Stronger His love than death or hell; Its riches are unsearchable: The first-born sons of light Desire in vain its depths to see;

They cannot reach the mystery. The length, and breadth, and height.

3 God only knows the love of God:

Oh that it now were shed abroad In this poor stony heart: For love I sigh, for love I pine: This only portion, Lord, be mine, Be mine this better part.

4 Oh that I could for ever sit With Mary at the Master's feet; Be this my happy choice: My only care, delight, and bliss, My joy, my heaven on earth, be this, To hear the Bridegroom's voice.

Charles Wesley, 1748

798 Rest in Divine Love desired

1 THOU hidden love of God, whose height, Whose depth unfathom'd, no man knows;

I see from far Thy beauteous light, Inly I sigh for Thy repose: My heart is pain'd, nor can it be At rest, till it finds rest in Thee.

2 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.

3 Bach moment draw from earth away My heart, that lowly waits Thy call;

Speak to my inmost soul, and say, "I am thy Love, thy God, thy All!" To feel Thy power, to hear Thy voice, To taste Thy lore, be all my choice.

Gerhard Tersteegen, 1731. tr. by John Wesley, 1739.

799

Abide in me

1 THOU, who art the incarnate God, In mine heart make Thine abode:

Come, dear Lord, and come to stay, Not just smile and go away!

2 Let not clouds Thy face eclipse, Let not anger seal Thy lips:

Thy fair count'nance let me see; With Thy sweet voice speak to me.

3 Rise then, Sun of Righteousness, Me with Thy sweet beamings bless;

Winter then may stay or flee, Lord, 'tis all alike to me.

4 If in life I have Thy grace, And at death behold Thy face:

Life may stay, or life may flee, Lord, 'tis all alike to me.

John Ryland, 1776.

800 Saviour, look on Thy Beloved

1 SAVIOUR, look on Thy beloved;

Triumph over all my foes;

Turn to happy joy my mourning;

Turn to gladness all my woes.

2 Live or die, or work or Buffer, Let my weary soul abide, In all changes whatsoever, Sure and steadfast by Thy side.

3 Nothing will preserve my goings, But salvation full and free;

Nothing will my feet dishearten, But my absence, Lord, from Thee.

4 Nothing can delay my progress, Nothing can disturb my rest, If I shall, where'er I wander, Lean my spirit on Thy breast.

William Williams, 1772

801

Jesus is enough

1 Jesus, my Saviour, is enough When all is gone and spent;

He fills and over-fills my soul, Thus I am pure content.

2 My covenant with flesh and blood, And every sinful thing, Is broken, and is steadfast made, With Jesus Christ my King.

3 Vanish from me, ye objects vain, All scenes of lower kind; A pleasure equal to my wish In God alone I find.

William Williams, 1759

802 Beauties of Jesus

1 WHITE and ruddy is my Beloved, All His heavenly beauties shine;

Nature can't produce an object, Nor so glorious, so divine;

He hath wholly Won my soul to realms above.

2 Farewell, all ye meaner creatures, For in Him is every store;

Wealth, or friends, or darling beauty, Shall not draw me any more; In my Saviour, I have found a glorious whole.

3 Such as find Thee find such sweetness Deep, mysterious, and unknown;

Far above all worldly pleasures, If they were to meet in one; My Beloved, O'er the mountains haste away.

William Williams, 1772

803 Jesus, reign in us.

1 Jesus, whose almighty sceptre Rules creation all around, In whose bowels love and mercy, Grace, and pity, full are found.

2 In ray spirit rule and conquer, There set up Thy eternal throne;

Win my heart from every creature, Thee to love, and Thee alone.

3 In Thy bleeding wounds most happy, Nought will do for wretched me, But a Saviour full of mercy, Dying, innocent, and free.

4 Climb, my soul, unto the mountain, Ever-blessed Calvary, See the wounded Victim bleeding, Nailed to a cursed tree.

5 Love to miserable sinners, Love unfathom'd, love to death, Was the only end and motive, To resign His gracious breath.

William Williams, 1772.

804 My Jesus, I love Thee.

1 MY Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine, For Thee all the follies of sin I resign; My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou, If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

2 I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me, And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;

I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow, If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

3 I will love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death, And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath; And say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow, If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

4 In mansions of glory and endless delight, I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;

I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

London Hymn Book, 1864

805 Weaned from the World

1 I THIRST, but not as once I did, The vain delights of earth to share;

Thy wounds, Immanuel, all forbid That I should seek my pleasures there.

2 It was the sight of Thy dear cross First wean'd my soul from earthly things; And taught me to esteem as dross The mirth of fools and pomp of kings.

3 Dear fountain of delight unknown! No longer sink below the brim; But overflow, and pour me down A living and life-giving stream!

William Cowper, 1779

806 Longing to be with Jesus

1 MY soul amid this stormy world, Is like some flutter'd dove; And fain would be as swift of wing, To flee to Him I love.

2 The cords that bound my heart to earth Are broken by His hand;

Before His cross I found myself A stranger in the land.

3 That visage marr'd, those sorrows deep, The vinegar and gall, These were His golden chains of love His captive to enthral.

4 My heart is with Him on His throne, And ill can brook delay;

Each moment listening for the voice, "Rise up, and come away."

5 With hope deferred, oft sick and faint, "Why tarries He?" I cry:

Let not the Saviour chide my haste, For then would I reply:

6 "May not an exile, Lord, desire His own sweet land to see? May not a captive seek release, A prisoner to be free?

7 "A child, when far away, may long For home and kindred dear; And she that waits her absent lord May sigh till he appear.

8 "I would, my Lord and Saviour, know, That which no measure knows: Would search the mystery of Thy love, The depths of all Thy woes.

9 "I fain would strike my harp divine Before the Father's throne, There cast my crown of righteousness, And sing what grace has done.

10 "Ah, leave me not in this base world, A stranger still to roam;

Come, Lord, and take me to Thyself, Come, Jesus, quickly come!"

Robert C. Chapman, 1837

807 Jesus our Choice

1 THOUGH all the world my choice deride, Yet Jesus shall my portion be; For I am pleased with none beside; The fairest of the fair is He.

2 Sweet is the vision of Thy face, And kindness o'er Thy lips is shed;

Lovely art Thou, and full of grace, And glory beams around Thy head.

3 Thy sufferings I embrace with Thee, Thy poverty and shameful cross; The pleasures of the world I flee, And deem its treasures only dross.

4 Be daily dearer to my heart, And ever let me feel Thee near;

Then willingly with all I'd part, Nor count it worthy of a tear.

Gerhard Tersteegen, 1731; tr. by Samuel Jackson, 1832.

808 His Name is lovely

1 OTHER name than my dear Lord's, Never to my heart affords Equal influence to move Its deep springs of joy and love.

2 He from youth has been my guide, He to hoar hairs will provide, Every light and every shade, On my path His presence made.

3 He hath been my joy in woe, Cheer'd my heart when it was low, And, with warnings softly sad, Calm'd my heart when it was glad.

4 Change or chance could ne'er befall, But He proved mine all in all;

All He asks in answer is, That I should be wholly His.

5 Oh that I may ever prove, By a life of earnest love, How, by right of grace divine, I am His, and He is mine.

John S. B. Monsell, 1863.

809 "I did know Thee in the Wilderness”

1 I KNEW Thee in the land of drought, Thy comfort and control, Thy truth encompass'd me about, Thy love refresh'd my soul.

2 I knew Thee when the world was waste, And Thou alone wast fair, On Thee my heart its fondness placed, My soul reposed its care.

3 And if Thine alter'd hand doth now My sky with sunshine fill, Who amid all so fair as Thou?

Oh let me know Thee still:

4 Still turn to Thee in days of light, As well as nights of care, Thou brightest amid all that's bright!

Thou fairest of the fair!

5 My sun is, Lord, where'er Thou art, My cloud, where self I see, My drought in an ungrateful heart, My freshest springs in Thee!

John S. B. Monsell, 1863.

810 Hark, the Voice of my Beloved

1 HARK! the voice of my Beloved, Lo, He comes in greatest need, Leaping on the lofty mountains, Skipping over hills with speed, To deliver, Me unworthy from all woe.

2 In a dungeon deep He found me, Without water, without light, Bound in chains of horrid darkness, Gloomy, thick, Egyptian night;

He recover'd Thence my soul with price immense.

3 And for this let men and angels, All the heavenly hosts above, Choirs of seraphims elected, With their golden harps of love, Praise and worship, My Redeemer without end.

4 Let believers raise their anthems;

All the saints in one accord, Mix'd with angels and archangels, Sing their dear Redeeming Lord;

Love eternal, Inconceivable, unknown.

William Williams, 1772, a

811 The Strength of Christ's Love

1 OH let my name engraven stand, My Jesus, on Thy heart and hand:

Seal me upon Thine arm, and wear That pledge of love for ever there.

2 Stronger than death Thy love is known, Which floods of wrath could never drown; And hell and earth in vain combine To quench a fire so much divine.

3 But I am jealous of my heart, Lest it should once from Thee depart;

Then let Thy name be well impress'd As a fair signet on my breast.

4 Till Thou hast brought me to Thy home, Where fears and doubts can never come.

Thy countenance let me often see, And often Thou shalt hear from me.

5 Come, my Beloved, haste away, Cut short the hours of Thy delay:

Fly like a youthful hart or roe Over the hills where spices grow.

Isaac Watts, 1709.

812 On Jesu's Heart and Arm.

1 I ASK my dying Saviour dear To set me on His heart; And if my Jesus fix me there, Nor life, nor death shall part.

2 As Aaron bore upon his breast The names of Jacob's sons, So bear my name among the rest Of Thy dear chosen ones.

3 But sea me also on Thine arm, Or yet I am not right;

I need Thy love to ward off harm, And need Thy shoulder's might.

4 This double seal makes all things sure, And keeps me safe and well;

Thy heart and shoulder will secure From all the host of hell.

John Berridge, 1785

813 "To live is Christ, and to die is Gain."

1 CHRIST, of all my hopes the ground, Christ, the spring of all my joy, Still in Thee may I be found, Still for Thee my powers employ.

2 Fountain of o'erflowing grace, Freely from Thy fulness give;

Till I close my earthly race, May I prove it, "Christ to live."

3 Firmly trusting in Thy blood, Nothing shall my heart confound;

Safely I shall pass the flood, Safely reach Immanuel's ground.

4 When I touch the blessed shore, Back the closing waves shall roll;

Death's dark stream shall never more Part from Thee my ravish'd soul.

5 Thus, oh thus, an entrance give To the land of cloudless sky!

Having known it, "Christ to live,"

Let me know it, "Gain to die."

Ralph Wardlaw, 1817.

814 Christ dwells in Heaven, but visits His Saints on Earth

1 MY best-beloved keeps His throne On hills of light, in worlds unknown; But He descends and shows His face In the young gardens of His grace.

2 He has engross'd my wannest love; No earthly charms my soul can move:

I have a mansion in His heart, Nor death nor hell shall make us part.

3 He takes my soul ere I'm aware, And shows me where His glories are: No chariot of Amminadib The heavenly rapture can describe.

4 Oh, may my spirit daily rise On wings of faith above the skies, Till death shall make my last remove, To dwell for ever with my love.

Isaac Watts, 1709

815 "With Thee is the Fountain of Life."

1 OBJECT of my first desire, Jesus crucified for me!

All to happiness aspire, Only to be found in Thee!

2 Thee to please and Thee to know, Constitute our bliss below;

Thee to see and Thee to love, Constitute our bliss above.

3 Lord, it is not life to lire, If Thy presence Thou deny;

Lord, if Thou Thy presence give, 'Tis no longer death to die!

4 Source and giver of repose!

Singly from Thy smile it flows, Peace and happiness are Thine, Mine they are, if Thou art mine!

Augustus M. Toplady, 1774.

816 Love the Source of Love

1 WHAT wondrous cause could move Thy heart To take on Thee my curse and smart? When Thou foreknewest I should be So cold and negligent to Thee?

2 The cause was love, I sink with shame be, Before my sacred Jesu's name, That Thou shouldst bleed and slaughter'd Because, because Thou lovedst me.

3 Thou lovedst me, oh boundless grace! Who can such wondrous mercy trace?

I, who unfaithful, foolish am, Yet find Thee still a patient lamb.

Clare Taylor, 1742

817

He is precious

1 PRECIOUS is the name of Jesus, Who can half its worth unfold?

Far beyond angelic praises, Sweetly sung to harps of gold.

2 Precious when to Calvary groaning, He sustained the cursed tree;

Precious when His death atoning Made an end of sin for me.

3 Precious when the bloody scourges Caused the sacred drops to roll;

Precious when of wrath the surges Overwhelm'd His holy soul.

4 Precious in His death victorious, He the host of hell o'erthrows; In His resurrection glorious, Victor crown'd o'er all His foes.

5 Precious, Lord! beyond expressing, Are Thy beauties all divine;

Glory, honour, power, and blessing Be henceforth for ever Thine.

John Kent, 1841

818 Beneath His Cross

1 BENEATH Thy cross I lay me down And mourn to see Thy bloody crown:

Love drops in blood from every vein, Love is the spring of all His pain.

2 Here, Jesus, I shall ever stay, And spend my longing hours away, Think on Thy bleeding wounds and pain, And contemplate Thy woes again.

3 The rage of Satan, and of sin, Of foes without, and fears within, Shall ne'er my conquering soul remove, Or from Thy cross or from Thy love.

4 Secured from harms beneath Thy shade, Here death and hell shall ne'er invade, Nor Sinai, with its thundering noise, Shall e'er disturb my happier joys.

5 Oh, unmolested happy rest! Where inward fears are all suppress'd, Here I shall love and live secure, And patiently my cross endure.

William Williams, 1772.

819 Holy Admiration of Jesus

1 JESUS, when faith with fixed eyes, Beholds Thy wondrous sacrifice, Love rises to an ardent flame, And we all other hope disclaim.

2 With cold affections who can see The thorns, the scourge, the nails, the tree, Thy flowing tears, and purple sweat, Thy bleeding hands, and head, and feet?

3 Look, saints, into His opening side, The breach how large, how deep, how wide!

Thence issues forth a double flood Of cleansing water, pardoning blood.

4 Hence. O my soul, a balsam flows To heal thy wounds, and cure thy woes;

Immortal joys come streaming down, Joys, like His griefs, immense, unknown.

5 Thus I could ever, ever sing The sufferings of my heavenly King; With glowing pleasure spread abroad The mysteries of a dying God.

Benjamin Beddome, 1818

820 Christ the Eternal Life

1 Jesus, our Kinsman and our God, Array'd in majesty and blood, Thou art our life; our souls in Thee Possess a full felicity.

2 All our immortal hopes are laid In Thee, our Surety and our Head;

Thy cross. Thy cradle, and Thy throne, Are big with glories yet unknown.

3 Oh, let my soul for ever lie Beneath the blessings of Thine eye;

'Tis heaven on earth, 'tis heaven above, To see Thy face, and taste Thy love.

Isaac Watts, 1734.