Author: Anne Steele, 1716-1778 Meter: 8.8.8.8 Appears in 2 hymnals Lyrics: 1 O dearer to my thankful heart
Than all the circling sun surveys!
Thy presence only can impart
Light, peace, and gladness to my days.
2 Beneath Thy soul reviving ray,
E’en cold affliction’s wintery gloom
Shall brighten into vernal day,
And hopes and joys immortal bloom.
3 Vain world, be gone with all thy toys;
I have no room for trifles here:
My heart aspires to nobler joys;
Thy fairest glories disappear.
4 Bright realms of bliss, where Jesus reigns,
My wish, my care, my hope invite:
Where raptured seraphs tune their strains
To themes of infinite delight.
5 See, Lord, Thy willing subject bows
Adoring low before Thy throne:
To Thee, I gladly pay my vows;
Thou art my sovereign, Thou alone.
6 Smile on my soul, and bid me sing,
In concert with the choir above,
The glories of my Savior king,
The condescensions of His love.
7 Amazing love! that stooped so low,
To view with pity’s melting eye
A wretch deserving endless woe!
Amazing love! Did Jesus die?
8 He died, to raise to life and joy
The vile, the guilty, the undone,
O let His praise my hours employ,
Till hours no more their circles run!
9 He died! Ye seraphs, tune your songs,
Resound, resound the Savior’s name:
For naught below immortal tongues
Can ever reach the wondrous theme. Used With Tune: KING OF KINGS Text Sources: Published posthumously in Miscellaneous Pieces of Verse and Prose (London: T. Cadell, T. Mills, T. Evans, J. Buckland & J. Johnson, 1760)
O Dearer To My Thankful Heart