When friends depart, and hopes are riven,
And gathering storms I see,
My soul is but the sooner driven,
Eternal Rock! to thee!
Oh for a voice of sweeter sound!
For every wind to bear-
To teach the listening world around
The blessedness of prayer!
Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth I desire in comparison of thee ?"
LORD of earth! thy forming hand
Well this wondrous frame hath plann'd,
Woods that wave, and hills that tower,
Ocean rolling in his power ;-
All that strikes the gaze unsought,
All that charms the lonely thought,—
Friendship-gem transcending price!
Love-a flower from Paradise!
Yet amid these scenes so fair,
Should I cease thy smile to share
What were all its joys to me?
Whom have I on earth but thee?
Lord of heaven! beyond our sight
Rolls a world of purer light-
There in love's unclouded reign,
Parted hands have clasped again.
Martyrs there, and prophets high
Blaze a glorious company !
While immortal music rings
From unnumbered seraphs strings?—
Oh that scene is passing fair,
Yet should'st thou be absent there,
What were all its joys to me?
Whom have I in heaven but thee?
Lord of heaven and earth! this breast
Seeks in thee its only rest:
I was lost-thy accents mild Homeward lured thy wand'ring child;
I was blind-thy healing ray
Charmed the long eclipse away-
Source of every joy I know,
Solace of my every woe,
O could once thy smile divine
Cease upon this soul to shine,
What were heaven or earth to me?
Whom have I in each but thee?
JESUS, Lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high:
Hide me, O my Saviour! hide,
Till the storm of life be past;
Safe into the haven guide,
my soul at last!
Hangs my helpless soul on thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me:
All my trust on thee is stay'd,
All my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head,
With the shadow of thy wing.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
More than all in thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name;
I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am;
Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with thee is found,
Grace to cover all my sin:
Let the healing streams abound,
Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
Freely let me take of thee:
Spring thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity.
How deep the joy, Almighty Lord,
Thy altars to the heart afford!
With envying eyes I see
The swallow fly to nestle there,
And find within the house of prayer
A bliss denied to me!
Compell'd by day to roam for food Where scorching suns or tempests rude Their angry influence fling,
O, gladly in that sheltered nest
She smooths, at eve, her ruffl'd breast, And folds her weary wing.
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