Where is my God, my joy, my hope

Representative Text

1 Where is my God, my joy, my hope,
The dear desire of nations where?
Jesus, to thee my soul looks up,
To thee directs her morning prayer;
And spreads her arms of faith abroad,
To embrace my hope, my joy, my God!

2 Mine eyes prevent the morning ray,
Looking, and longing for thy word:
Come, O my Jesus, come away,
And let my heart receive its Lord;
Which pants and struggles to be free,
And breaks to be detain'd from thee.

3 Appear in me bright Morning Star,
And scatter all the shades of night!
I saw thee once, and came from far,
But quickly lost thy transient light;
And now again in darkness pine,
Till thou throughout my nature shine.

4 In patient hope I now take heed
To the sure word of promis'd grace,
Whose rays a feeble lustre shed,
Faint, glimmering through the darksome place;
Till thou thy glorious light impart,
And rise, the Day-Star in my heart.

5 Come, Lord, be manifested here,
And all the devil's works destroy;
Now without sin in me appear,
And fill with everlasting joy:
Thy beatific face display,
Thy presence is the perfect day.

Source: A Pocket Hymn Book: designed as a constant companion for the pious, collected from various authors (9th ed.) #CCIX

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Author: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >

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