LONG have I seemed to serve thee, Lord, With unavailing pain; Fasted, and...

LONG have I seemed to serve thee, Lord, With unavailing pain; Fasted, and prayed, and read thy word, And heard it preached in vain.

Oft did I with the assembly join, And near thine altar drew; A form of godliness was mine, The power I never knew.

I rested in the outward law, Nor knew its deep design; The length and breadth I never saw, And height, of love divine.

To please thee thus, at length I see, Vainly I hoped and strove; For what are outward things to thee, Unless they spring from love?

I see the perfect law requires Truth in the inward parts, Our full consent, our whole desires, Our undivided hearts.

But I of means have made my boast. Of means an idol made; The spirit in the letter lost, The substance in the shade.

Where am I now, or what my hope? What can my weakness do? Jesus, to thee my soul looks up, ' Tis thou must make it new.