The Psalms of David ‎#II.C

II.C. How full of Anguish is the Thought?

[1 How full of Anguish is the Thought?
How it distracts and tears my Heart?
If God, at last, my sov'reign Judge,
Should frown, and bid my Soul, Depart.]

2 Lord, when I quit this earthly Stage,
Where shall I fly but to thy Breast?
For I have sought no other Home;
For I have learnt no other Rest.

3 I cannot live contented here,
Without some Glimpses of thy Face;
And Heav'n, without thy Presence there,
Would be a dark and tiresome Place.

4 When earthly Cares engross the Day,
And hold my Thoughts aside from Thee,
The shining Hours of chearful Light
Are long and tedious Years to me.

5 And if no Ev'ning Visit's paid
Between my Saviour and my Soul,
How dull the Might! how sad the Shade!
How mournfully the Minutes roll!

6 This Flesh of mine might learn as soon
To live, yet part with all my Blood;
To breathe when vital Air is gone,
Or thrive and grow without my Food.

[7 Christ is my Light, my Love, my Care,
My blessed Hope, my heav'nly Prize;
Dearer than all my Passions are,
My Limbs, my Bowels, or my Eyes.]

[8 The Strings that twine about my Heart,
Tortures and Racks may tear them off;
But they can never, never part
With their dear Hold of Christ my Love.]

[9 My God! and can an humble Child,
That loves Thee with a Flame so high,
Be ever from thy Face exil'd,
Without the Pity of thine Eye?

10 Impossible - For thine own Hands
Have tied my Heart so fast to Thee;
And in thy Book the Promise stands,
That where thou art thy Friends must be.]

Text Information

• First Line: How full of Anguish is the Thought?
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1769
• Topic: Absence and Presence of God; Desire of Christ's Presence; God's Everlasting Absence intolerable; Love to Christ

Tune Information

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