The New Christian Hymnal ‎#92

92. 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;
Impris'n me in Thy mighty 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 pow'r 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 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, 1842-1906
• Meter: S M D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1929
• Topic: Jesus Christ: King

Tune Information

• Name: LEOMINSTER
• Composer: G. W. Martin (1862)
• Meter: S M D
• Incipit: 33333 43222 32233
• Key: D Major