Hymns and Spiritual Songs, in Three Books ‎#II.C

II.C. The presence of Christ is the life of my soul

1 How full of anguish is the thought,
How it distracts and tears my heart,
If God at last my sov'reign judge,
Should frown, and bid my soul "Depart."

2 Lord, when I quit this earthly stage,
Where shall I fly but to thy breast?
For I have sought no other home;
For I have learned no other rest.

3 I cannot live contented here
Without some glimpses of thy face;
And heav'n, without thy presence there,
Will be a dark and tiresome place.

4 When earthly cares engross the day,
And hold my thoughts aside from thee,
The shining hours of cheerful light
Are long and tedious years to me.

5 And if no ev'ning visit's paid
Between my Saviour and my soul,
How dull the night! how sad the shade!
How mournfully the minutes roll!

6 This flesh of mine might learn as soon
To live, yet part with all my blood;
To breathe, when vital air is gone,
Or thrive and grow without my food.

7 [Christ is my light, my life, my care,
My blessed hope, my heav'nly prize;
Dearer than all my passions are,
My limbs, my bowels, or my eyes.

8 The strings that twine about my heart,
Tortures and racks may tear them off;
But they can never, never part
With their dear hold of Christ my love.]

9 [My God! and can an humble child
That loves thee with a flame so high,
Be ever from thy face exil'd,
Without the pity of thine eye?

10 Impossible!-For thine own hands
Have ty'd my heart so fast to thee,
And in thy book the promise stands,
That where thou art thy friends must be.]

Text Information

• First Line: How full of anguish is the thought
• Title: The presence of Christ is the life of my soul
• Meter: L. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1793
• Notes: Public Domain.

Tune Information

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