Hymns for the Living Church ‎#376

376. 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 conqu'ror 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 hast 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 wants the needed fire to glow,
It wants the breeze to nerve;
It cannot drive the world
Until itself be driv'n;
Its flag can only be unfurled
When Thou shalt breathe from heav'n.

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 leaned,
And found in Thee its life.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Make me a captive, Lord
• Title: Make Me a Captive, Lord
• Author: George Matheson (1890)
• Meter: S.M.D.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1974
• Scripture:
  Matthew 10:39
  ;
  Galatians 2:20
• Topic: Power, Spiritual

Tune Information

• Name: DIADEMATA
• Composer: George J. Elvey (1868)
• Meter: S.M.D.
• Key: D Major