O Thou, to Whose All-Searching Sight

Representative Text

1 O thou to whose all-searching sight
The darkness shineth as the light,
Search, prove my heart, it pants for thee;
O burst these bonds and set it free!

2 Wash out its stain, refine its dross,
Nail my affections to the cross:
Hallow each thought, let all within
Be clean, as thou, my Lord, art clean.

3 Saviour, where’er thy steps I see,
Dauntless, untired, I’ll follow thee;
O let thy hand support me still
And lead me to thy holy hill!

4 If rough and thorny be the way,
My strength proportion to my day,
Till toil and grief and pain shall cease,
Where all is calm and joy and peace.


Source: The Song Book of the Salvation Army #453

Author: Nicolaus Ludwig, Graf von Zinzendorf

Zinzendorf, Count Nicolaus Ludwig, the founder of the religious community of Herrnhut and the apostle of the United Brethren, was born at Dresden May 26, 1700. It is not often that noble blood and worldly wealth are allied with true piety and missionary zeal. Such, however, was the case with Count Zinzendorf. In 1731 Zinzendorf resigned all public duties and devoted himself to missionary work. He traveled extensively on the Continent, in Great Britain, and in America, preaching "Christ, and him crucified," and organizing societies of Moravian brethren. John Wesley is said to have been under obligation to Zinzendorf for some ideas on singing, organization of classes, and Church government. Zinzendorf was the author of some two thousand hymn… Go to person page >

Translator: John Wesley

John Wesley, the son of Samuel, and brother of Charles Wesley, was born at Epworth, June 17, 1703. He was educated at the Charterhouse, London, and at Christ Church, Oxford. He became a Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, and graduated M.A. in 1726. At Oxford, he was one of the small band consisting of George Whitefield, Hames Hervey, Charles Wesley, and a few others, who were even then known for their piety; they were deridingly called "Methodists." After his ordination he went, in 1735, on a mission to Georgia. The mission was not successful, and he returned to England in 1738. From that time, his life was one of great labour, preaching the Gospel, and publishing his commentaries and other theological works. He died in London, in 17… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O Thou, to whose all-searching sight
Title: O Thou, to Whose All-Searching Sight
Translator: John Wesley (1738)
Author: Nicolaus Ludwig, Graf von Zinzendorf (1721)
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Source: German
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

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The Cyber Hymnal #5383
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Great Songs of the Church (Revised) #510

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The Cyber Hymnal #5383

The Harmonia Sacra #58B

Text

The Song Book of the Salvation Army #453

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