A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (15th ed.) ‎#305

305. Forms Vain Without the Spirit

The uplifted eye and bended knee
Are but vain homage, Lord, to Thee:
In vain our lips Thy praise prolong,
The heart a stranger to the song.

Can rites, and forms, and flaming zeal,
The breaches of Thy precepts heal?
Or fasts and penance reconcile
Thy justice, and obtain Thy smile?

The pure, the humble, contrite mind,
Sincere, and to Thy will resigned,
To Thee a nobler offering yields
Than Sheba’s groves, or Sharon’s fields.

Love God and man,—this great command
Doth on eternal pillars stand;
This did Thine ancient prophets teach,
And this Thy well-beloved preach.

Text Information

• First Line: The uplifted eye and bended knee
• Title: Forms Vain Without the Spirit
• Author: Doddridge
• Meter: L. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1866

Tune Information

(No tune information)