The Cyber Hymnal ‎#4144

4144. Make Me a Captive, Lord

1. Make me a captive, Lord,
and then I shall be free.
Force me to render up my sword,
and I shall conqueror be.
I sink in life’s alarms
when by myself I stand;
Imprison me within Thine arms,
and strong shall be my hand.

2. My heart is weak and poor
until it master find;
It has no spring of action sure,
it varies with the wind.
It cannot freely move
till Thou has wrought its chain;
Enslave it with Thy matchless love,
and deathless it shall reign.

3. My power is faint and low
till I have learned to serve;
It lacks the needed fire to glow,
it lacks the breeze to nerve.
It cannot drive the world
until itself be driven;
Its flag can only be unfurled
when Thou shalt breathe from heaven.

4. My will is not my own
till Thou hast made it Thine;
If it would reach a monarch’s throne,
it must its crown resign.
It only stands unbent
amid the clashing strife,
When on Thy bosom it has leant,
and found in Thee its life.

Text Information

• First Line: Make me a captive, Lord
• Title: Make Me a Captive, Lord
• Author: George Matheson (1890)
• Meter: SMD
• Language: English
• Source: Sacred Songs, 1890
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Alternate tunes: LEOMINSTER, George W. Martin, 1862; LLANLLYFNI, John Jones, 1797-1857, adapted by David Jenkins, 1848-1915

Tune Information

• Name: DIADEMATA
• Composer: George Job Elvey (1868)
• Meter: SMD
• Incipit: 11133 66514 32235
• Key: E♭ Major
• Source: Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1868
• Copyright: Public Domain