Author: Charles Wesley Meter: 8.8.8.8 Appears in 157 hymnals Lyrics: 1 God of my life, whose gracious power
Through varied deaths my soul hath led,
Or turned aside the fatal hour,
Or lifted up my sinking head!
2 In all my ways Thy hand I own,
Thy ruling providence I see:
Assist me still my course to run,
And still direct my paths to Thee.
3 On Thee my helpless soul is cast,
And looks again Thy grace to prove;
I call to mind the wonders past,
The countless wonders of Thy love.
4 Thou, Lord, my spirit oft has stayed,
Hast snatched me from the gaping tomb,
A monument of Thy mercy made,
And rescued me from wrath to come.
5 Oft hath the sea confessed Thy power,
And gave me back to Thy command;
It could not, Lord, my life devour,
Safe in the hollow of Thine hand.
6 Oft from the margin of the grave
Thou, Lord, hast lifted up my head;
Sudden I found Thee near to save;
The fever owned Thy touch, and fled.
7 But O! The mightier work of grace,
That still the life of faith I live,
That still I pant to sing Thy praise,
That still my all I gasp to give.
8 Plucked from the roaring lion’s teeth,
Caught up from the eternal fire,
Snatched from the gates of hell I breathe,
And lo! to Heaven I still aspire!
9 Whither, oh whither should I fly,
But to my loving Savior’s breast;
Secure within Thine arms to lie,
And safe beneath Thy wings to rest!
10 I feel the fiery trial near,
But Thou, my God, art still the same;
Hell, earth, and sin I scorn to fear,
Divinely armed with Jesu’s name.
11 I have no skill the snare to shun,
But Thou, O Christ, my wisdom art;
I ever into ruin run:
But Thou art greater than my heart.
12 I have no might t’oppose the foe,
But everlasting strength is Thine.
Show me the way that I should go;
Show me the path I should decline.
13 Which shall I leave, and which pursue?
Thou only mine advisor be;
My God, I know not what to do;
But Oh! mine eyes are fixed on Thee.
14 Foolish, and impotent, and blind,
Lead me a way I have not known;
Bring me where I my heaven may find,
The heaven of loving Thee alone.
15 Enlarge my heart to make Thee room;
Enter, and in me ever stay;
The crooked then shalt straight become:
The darkness shall be lost in day! Used With Tune: ANGELUS Text Sources: Hymns and Sacred Poems 1740
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