Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion Part 40

1 Wilt Thou not visit me?

The plant beside me feels Thy gentle dew; Each blade of gra.s.s I see, From Thy deep earth its quickening moisture drew.

2 Wilt Thou not visit me?

Thy morning calls on me with cheering tone; And every hill and tree Lend but one voice, the voice of Thee alone.

3 Come! for I need Thy love, More than the flower the dew, or gra.s.s the rain; Come, like Thy holy dove, And let me in Thy sight rejoice to live again.

4 Yes! Thou wilt visit me; Nor plant nor tree Thine eye delights so well, As when, from sin set free, Man's spirit comes with Thine in peace to dwell.

238. 7 & 6s. M. Anonymous.

Aspiration.

1 Rise, my soul, and stretch thy wings, Thy better portion trace!

Rise, from transitory things, Towards heaven, thy native place!

Sun, and moon, and stars decay; Time shall soon this earth remove; Rise, my soul, and haste away To seats prepared above!

2 Rivers to the ocean run, Nor stay in all their course; Fire, ascending, seeks the sun; Both speed them to their source; So the spirit, born of G.o.d, Pants to view His glorious face; Upward tends to His abode, To rest in His embrace.

239. P. M. Sarah F. Adams.

Nearer to Thee.

1 Nearer, my G.o.d, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!

E'en though it be a cross That raiseth me; Still all my song shall be,-- Nearer, my G.o.d, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!

2 Though, like the wanderer, The sun gone down, Darkness be over me, My rest a stone; Yet in my dreams I'd be Nearer, my G.o.d, to Thee,-- Nearer to Thee!

3 There let the way appear, Steps unto heaven; All that Thou sendest me, In mercy given; Angels to beckon me Nearer, my G.o.d, to Thee,-- Nearer to Thee!

4 Then with my waking thoughts, Bright with Thy praise, Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I'll raise; So by my woes to be Nearer, my G.o.d, to Thee,-- Nearer to Thee!

5 Or if on joyful wing, Cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and stars forgot, Upward I fly; Still all my song shall be,-- Nearer, my G.o.d, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!

240. S. M. Mme. Guion.

Living Waters.

1 The fountain in its source No drought of summer fears; The further it pursues its course, The n.o.bler it appears.

2 But shallow cisterns yield A scanty, short supply; The morning sees them amply filled, At evening they are dry.

3 The cisterns I forsake, O Fount of life, for Thee!

My thirst with living waters slake, And drink eternity.

241. L. M. *Mrs. Steele.

Self-Consecration.

1 My soul no more shall strive in vain, Slave to the world, and slave to sin!

A n.o.bler toil I will sustain, A n.o.bler satisfaction win.

2 I will resolve, with all my heart, With all my powers, to serve the Lord; Nor from His precepts e'er depart, Whose service is a rich reward.

3 O, be His service all my joy!

Around let my example s.h.i.+ne, Till others love the blest employ, And join in labors so divine.

4 O, may I never faint nor tire, Nor, wandering, leave His sacred ways; Great G.o.d! accept my soul's desire, And give me strength to live Thy praise.

242. L. M. Oberlin.

Self-Dedication.

1 O Lord, Thy heavenly grace impart, And fix my frail, inconstant heart; Henceforth my chief desire shall be To dedicate myself to Thee.

2 Whate'er pursuits my time employ, One thought shall fill my soul with joy; That silent, secret thought shall be, That all my hopes are fixed on Thee.

3 Thy glorious eye pervadeth s.p.a.ce; Thy presence, Lord, fills every place; And, wheresoe'er my lot may be, Still shall my spirit cleave to Thee.

4 Renouncing every worldly thing, And safe beneath Thy sheltering wing, My sweetest thought henceforth shall be, That all I want I find in Thee.

243. C. P. M. Jane Roscoe.

Self-Consecration.