H for a beam of heavenly light,
To guide my wand'ring steps aright,
And shine along the narrow road
That leads the penitent to God!
Lord, I am weak, and prone to stray;
O keep me in thy holy way;
What nature wants, let grace supply;
And lead me onward to the sky.
On thee depending, let me go
In safety through this vale of woe;
And may thy gracious presence cheer
My heart in all its trials here
Thus, loving all thy statutes, Lord,
And ever trusting in thy word,
May I attain that happy shore,
Where sin and grief disturb no more.
H! whither should I go,
A faint?
To whom should I my troubles shew,
And pour out my complaint?
My Saviour bids me come,
Ah! why do I delay ?
He calls the weary sinner home;
And yet from him I stay.
What is it keeps me back,
From which I cannot part,
Which will not let the Saviour take
Some cursed thing unknown
Must surely lurk within;
Some idol which I will not own,
Some secret bosom-sin.
Jesus, the hindrance shew,
Which I have fear'd to see:
Yet, let me now consent to know
What keeps me back from thee.
Searcher of hearts, in mine
Thy trying power display;
Into its darkest corners shine,
And take the veil away.
In me is all the bar,
Which thou wouldst fain remove:
Remove it, and I shall declare
That God is only love.
"ASK, and ye shall receive;"
On this my hope I build :
I ask forgiveness, and believe
My prayer shall be fulfill'd.
"Seek, and expect to find;"
Wounded to death in soul,
I seek the Saviour of mankind;
His touch can make me whole.
"Knock, and with patience wait,
Faith shall free entrance win:"
I stand and knock at mercy's gate;
Lord Jesus, let me in.
How should I ask in vain ?
Seek, and not find thee, Lord?
Knock, and yet no admittance gain?
Is it not in thy word?
Time, ruin, change, decay,
The lines can never blot;
Though heaven and earth shall pass away, Thy Word, O God! shall not.
YOME, my soul, thy suit prepare:
Jesus loves to answer prayer.
He himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay.
Thou art coming to a King:
Large petitions with thee bring;
For his grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much.
With my burden I begin;
Lord, remove this load of sin :
Let thy blood, for sinners spilt,
Set my conscience free from guilt.
Lord, I come to thee for rest:
Take possession of my breast;
There thy blood-bought right maintain,
And without a rival reign.
While I am a pilgrim here,
Let thy love my spirit cheer:
As my guide, my guard, my friend,
Lead me to my journey's end.
Some cursed thing unknown
Must surely lurk within;
Some idol which I will not own,
Some secret bosom-sin.
Jesus, the hindrance shew,
Which I have fear'd to see:
Yet, let me now consent to know
What keeps me back from thee.
Searcher of hearts, in mine
Thy trying power display;
Into its darkest corners shine,
And take the veil away.
In me is all the bar,
Which thou wouldst fain remove:
Remove it, and I shall declare
That God is only love.
"ASK, and ye shall receive;"
On this my hope I build :
I ask forgiveness, and believe
My prayer shall be fulfill'd.
"Seek, and expect to find;"
Wounded to death in soul,
I seek the Saviour of mankind;
His touch can make me whole.
"Knock, and with patience wait,
Faith shall free entrance win :"
I stand and knock at mercy's gate;
Lord Jesus, let me in.
How should I ask in vain ?
Seek, and not find thee, Lord?
Knock, and yet no admittance gain?
Is it not in thy word?
Time, ruin, change, decay,
The lines can never blot;
Though heaven and earth shall pass away, Thy Word, O God! shall not.
COME, moves to answer prayer.
YOME, my soul, thy suit prepare:
He himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay.
Thou art coming to a King:
Large petitions with thee bring;
For his grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much.
With my burden I begin;
Lord, remove this load of sin
Let thy blood, for sinners spilt,
Set my conscience free from guilt.
Lord, I come to thee for rest:
Take possession of my breast;
There thy blood-bought right maintain,
And without a rival reign.
While I am a pilgrim here,
Let thy love my spirit cheer:
As my guide, my guard, my friend,
Lead me to my journey's end.
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