Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul Part 44

'Tis Thou hast made me happy; 'Tis thou hast set me free.

To whom shall I give glory Forever but to Thee!

Of earthly love and blessing Should every stream run dry, Thy grace shall still be with me-- Thy grace to live and die!

--Theodore Monod.

WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN BUT THEE?

I love, and have some cause to love, the earth; She is my Maker's creature, therefore good; She is my mother, for she gave me birth; She is my tender nurse, she gives me food; But what's a creature, Lord, compared with Thee?

Or what's my mother or my nurse to me?

The highest honors that the world can boast Are subjects far too low for my desire; The brightest beams of glory are, at most, But dying sparkles of thy living fire; The proudest flames that earth can kindle be But nightly glowworms if compared to Thee.

Without thy presence, wealth are bags of cares; Wisdom, but folly; joy, disquiet, sadness; Friends.h.i.+p is treason, and delights are snares; Pleasure's but pain, and mirth but pleasing madness: Without Thee, Lord, things be not what they be, Nor have their being when compared with Thee.

In having all things, and not Thee, what have I?

Not having Thee, what have my labors got?

Let me enjoy but Thee, what further crave I?

And having Thee alone, what have I not?

I wish nor sea nor land; nor would I be Possess'd of heaven, heaven unpossess'd of thee.

--Francis Quarles.

Only for Jesus! Lord, keep it ever Sealed on the heart, and engraved on the life; Pulse of all gladness, and nerve of endeavor, Secret of rest and the strength of our strife.

--Frances Ridley Havergal.

SINCE FIRST THY WORD AWAKED MY HEART

Since first thy word awaked my heart, Like new life dawning o'er me, Where'er I turn my eyes, Thou art All light and love before me.

Nought else I feel or hear or see, All bonds of earth I sever, Thee, O G.o.d, and only thee, I live for now and ever.

Like him whose fetters dropped away When light shone o'er his prison, My spirit, touched by mercy's ray, Hath from her chains arisen.

And shall a soul Thou bid'st be free Return to bondage? Never!

Thee, O G.o.d, and only thee, I live for now and ever.

--Thomas Moore.

WE GIVE ALL

And now we only ask to serve, We do not ask to rest; We would give all without reserve, Our life, our love, our best.

We only ask to see His face, It is enough for us; We only ask the lowest place, So he may smile on us.

--Mary E. Townsend.

THE TWO WORLDS

Unveil, O Lord, and on us s.h.i.+ne In glory and in grace; The gaudy world grows pale before The beauty of thy face.

Till Thou art seen, it seems to be A sort of fairy ground, Where suns unsetting light the sky, And flowers and fruits abound,

But when Thy keener, purer beam Is poured upon our sight, It loses all its power to charm, And what was day is night.

Its n.o.blest toils are then the scourge Which made Thy blood to flow; Its joys are but the treacherous thorns Which circled round thy brow.

And thus, when we renounce for Thee Its restless aims and fears, The tender memories of the past, The hopes of coming years,

Poor is our sacrifice, whose eyes Are lighted from above; We offer what we cannot keep, What we have ceased to love.

--John Henry Newman.

SELF-SURRENDER

Saviour, who died for me, I give myself to thee; Thy love, so full, so free, Claims all my powers.

Be this my purpose high, To serve Thee till I die, Whether my path shall lie 'Mid thorns or flowers.

But, Lord, the flesh is weak; Thy gracious aid I seek, For thou the word must speak That makes me strong.

Then let me hear thy voice, Thou art my only choice; O bid my heart rejoice; Be thou my song.

May it be joy to me To follow only Thee; Thy faithful servant be, Thine to the end.

For Thee I'll do and dare, For thee the cross I'll bear, To thee direct my prayer, On thee depend.

Saviour, with me abide; Be ever near my side; Support, defend, and guide.

I look to thee.

I lay my hand in thine, And fleeting joys resign, If I may call thee mine Eternally.

--Mary J. Mason.

For all the sins that cling to thee Let wide the gates of pardon be; But hope not thou shalt smuggle through The little sin thou clingest to.

--F. Langbridge.

G.o.d ALONE LOVED

Do I not love thee, Lord most high, In answer to thy love for me!

I seek no other liberty But that of being bound to Thee.

May memory no thought suggest But shall to thy pure glory tend; May understanding find no rest Except in Thee, its only end.

My G.o.d, I here protest to Thee No other will I have than thine; Whatever thou hast given me I here again to Thee resign.