A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (15th ed.) ‎#221

221. Devout Retirement and Meditation

My God! permit me not to be
A stranger to myself and Thee;
Amidst a thousand thoughts I rove,
Forgetful of my highest love.

Why should my passions mix with earth,
And thus debase my heavenly birth?
Why should I cleave to things below,
And let my God, my Saviour, go?

Call me away from flesh and sense;
One sovereign word can draw me thence;
I would obey Thy voice divine,
And all inferior joys resign.

Be earth, with all her strife, withdrawn;
Let noise and vanity be gone;
In secret silence of the mind,
My heaven, and there my God, I find.

Text Information

• First Line: My God! permit me not to be
• Title: Devout Retirement and Meditation
• Author: Watts
• Meter: L. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1866

Tune Information

(No tune information)