A Nice Hymn
Created | Updated Nov 5, 2005
The will I love, my strength, my tower
Thee will I love, my joy, my crown;
Thee will I love with all my power,
In all my works, and thee alone!
Thee will I love, till Thy pure fire
Fill my whole soul with chaste desire.
Ah! why did I so late thee know,
Thee, lovlier than the sons of men!
Ah! why did I no sooner go
To Thee, the only ease in pain!
Ashamed I sigh, and inly mourn
That I so late to thee did turn.
In darkness willingly I strayed;
I sought thee, yet from thee I roved,
For wide my wandering thoughts were spread;
Thy creatures more than thee I loved:
And now , if more at length I see,
'Tis through thy light and comes from thee.
I thank Thee ... (His Son)
... That, thy bright beams on me have shined;
I thank thee who has overthrown
My foes, and healed my wounded mind;
I thank thee, whose enlivening voice
Bids my freed heart in thee rejoice.
Uphold me in the ( doubtful ) race,
Nor suffer, me again - to stray?
Strengthen my feet with a steady pace
Still to press forward in thy way,
My soul and my flesh Oh my Lord Of might
Fill, satiate with Thy heavenly light.
Give to my eyes refreshing tears;
Give to my heart chaste, hallowed fires;
Give to my soul, with filial fears,
The love that all heaven's host inspires:
"That all my powers with all their might
In Thy sole glory may unite!"
The will I love, my joy, my crown!
Thee will I love, my Lord, my God!
Thee will I love, beneath Thy frown
Or smile, Thy sceptre or Thy rod.
What though my flesh and heart decay?
Thee shall I love in endless day!
Adjustments made
Thee will I love, my joy, my crown;
Thee will I love with all my power,
In all my works, and thee alone!
Thee will I love, till Thy pure fire
Fill my whole soul with chaste desire.
Ah! why did I so late thee know,
Thee, lovlier than the sons of men!
Ah! why did I no sooner go
To Thee, the only ease in pain!
Ashamed I sigh, and inly mourn
That I so late to thee did turn.
In darkness willingly I strayed;
I sought thee, yet from thee I roved,
For wide my wandering thoughts were spread;
Thy creatures more than thee I loved:
And now , if more at length I see,
'Tis through thy light and comes from thee.
I thank Thee ... (His Son)
... That, thy bright beams on me have shined;
I thank thee who has overthrown
My foes, and healed my wounded mind;
I thank thee, whose enlivening voice
Bids my freed heart in thee rejoice.
Uphold me in the ( doubtful ) race,
Nor suffer, me again - to stray?
Strengthen my feet with a steady pace
Still to press forward in thy way,
My soul and my flesh Oh my Lord Of might
Fill, satiate with Thy heavenly light.
Give to my eyes refreshing tears;
Give to my heart chaste, hallowed fires;
Give to my soul, with filial fears,
The love that all heaven's host inspires:
"That all my powers with all their might
In Thy sole glory may unite!"
The will I love, my joy, my crown!
Thee will I love, my Lord, my God!
Thee will I love, beneath Thy frown
Or smile, Thy sceptre or Thy rod.
What though my flesh and heart decay?
Thee shall I love in endless day!
Adjustments made
