Hymns to the Living God ‎#322

322. Thou Sweet Beloved Will of God

1 Thou sweet beloved will of God,
my anchor ground, my fortress hill,
my spirit’s silent fair abode,
in thee I hide me and am still.

2 O will, that willest good alone,
lead thou the way, thou guidest best;
a little child, I follow on,
and trusting, lean upon thy breast.

3 God’s will doth make the bitter sweet,
and all is well when it is done;
unless His will doth hallow it,
the glory of all joy is gone.

4 Self, sense, and reason, they may scorn
that hidden way that leads on high--
still be my deepest will uptorn,
and so the pow'r of nature die.

5 And if in gloom I see thee not,
I lean upon thy love unknown--
in me thy blessèd will is wrought,
if I will nothing of my own.

6 O spirit of a little child,
Of will bereft, untroubled, pure,
I seek thy glory undefiled;
Lord, take my will, Thy love is sure.

7 O will of God, my soul’s desire,
my bread of life in want and pain;
O will of God, my guiding fire,
unite my will to thine again.

8 O will, in me thy work be done,
for time, and for eternity--
give joy or sorrow, all are one
to that blest soul that loveth thee.

Text Information

• First Line: Thou sweet beloved will of God
• Title: Thou Sweet Beloved Will of God
• Author: Gerhard Tersteegen (1729)
• Translator: Frances Bevan (1899)
• Meter: LM
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2017
• Topic: Comfort, Death, and Glory

Tune Information

• Name: GERMANY
• Meter: LM
• Key: A♭ Major
• Source: William Gardiner's Sacred Melodies, 1815
• Notes: Higher key: no. 228