Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion Part 87

1 O, for a heart to praise my G.o.d, A heart from sin set free; A heart that always feels how good, Thou, Lord, hast been to me.

2 O for an humble, trustful heart, Believing, true, and clean, Which neither life nor death can part From Him who dwells within;--

3 A heart in every thought renewed, And full of love divine, Perfect, and right, and pure, and good, Conformed, O Lord, to Thine.

4 Thy spirit, gracious Lord, impart; Come quickly from above; O, write Thy name upon my heart!

Thy name, O G.o.d, is love.

519. S. M. Mrs. Hemans.

For Heavenly Thoughts.

1 Come to me, thoughts of heaven!

My fainting spirit bear On your bright wings, by morning given, Up to celestial air, Away, far, far away, From thoughts by pa.s.sion given, Fold me in pure, still, cloudless day, O blessed thoughts of heaven!

2 Come in my tempted hour, Sweet thoughts! and yet again O'er sinful wish and memory, shower Your soft effacing rain; Waft me where gales divine With dark clouds ne'er have striven; Where living founts forever s.h.i.+ne; O blessed Thoughts of heaven!

520. C. M. Bath Coll.

Prayer for Faith.

1 O, for a faith that will not shrink Though pressed by every foe, That will not tremble on the brink Of any earthly woe!

2 A faith that s.h.i.+nes more bright and clear When tempests rage without; That when in danger knows no fear, In darkness feels no doubt;--

3 Lord, give us such a faith as this, And then, whate'er may come, We'll taste, e'en here, the hallowed bliss Of an eternal home.

521. C. M. Montgomery.

Prayer for Submission.

1 One prayer I have,--all prayers in one, When I am wholly Thine; Thy will, my G.o.d, Thy will be done, And let that will be mine.

2 All-wise, almighty, and all-good, In Thee I firmly trust; Thy ways, unknown or understood, Are merciful and just.

3 May I remember that to Thee Whate'er I have I owe; And back in grat.i.tude from me May all Thy bounties flow.

4 Thy gifts are only then enjoyed, When used as talents lent; Those talents only well employed, When in Thy service spent.

5 And though Thy wisdom takes away, Shall I arraign Thy will?

No, let me bless Thy name, and say "The Lord is gracious still."

6 A pilgrim through the earth I roam, Of nothing long possessed, And all must fail when I go home, For this is not my rest.

522. C. M. C. Wesley.

For the Divine Presence.

1 Speak with us, Lord; Thyself reveal, While here on earth we rove; Speak to our hearts, and let us feel The kindlings of Thy love.

2 With Thee conversing, we forget All toil and time and care; Labor is rest, and pain is sweet, If Thou art present there.

3 Here then, our G.o.d, be pleased to stay, And bid our hearts rejoice; Our bounding hearts shall own Thy sway, And echo to Thy voice.

4 Thou callest us to seek Thy face; Thy face, O G.o.d, we seek, Attend the whispers of Thy grace, And hear Thee inly speak.

523. C. M. Wesley.

Struggling Upward.

1 Father divine, our wants relieve In this our evil day; To all Thy tempted children give The power to watch and pray.

2 Long as our fiery trials last, Long as the cross we bear, O, let our souls on Thee be cast, In never-ceasing prayer!

3 Thy spirit of untroubled peace Give us in faith to claim, To wrestle till we see Thy face, And know Thy hidden name.

4 Till Thou Thy perfect love impart, Till Thou Thyself bestow, Be this the cry of every heart,-- I will not let Thee go;

5 I will not let Thee go, unless Thou tell Thy name to me; With all Thy great salvation bless, And make me all like Thee.

6 Then let us, on the mountain top, Behold Thine unveiled face, Where faith in sight is swallowed up, And prayer in endless praise.

524. 7 & 6s. M. Wesleyan.

Longing for Rest in G.o.d.