Aspirations

Oh to be nearer Thee, my Saviour,
Oh to be filled with Thy sweet grace,
Oh to abide in Thine own favour,
Oh to behold Thy glorious face.

Oh to be ever upward gazing,
Glad with the sunshine of Thy love ;
Oh to be ever, ever praising,
Echoing here the songs above.

Oh to be never, never weary
E'en in the dark affray of sin ;
Oh to press on through conflicts dreary,
One of Thine own dear smiles to win.

Oh to desire to spread Thy glory,
Seeking it as my only aim ;
Oh to be taught Thy strange sweet story
Worthily, fully to proclaim.

Oh to go onward, self forgetting,
Willing to take the lowest place ;
Oh to go upward, never letting
Pride of the heart my glance abase.

Oh to become each day more lowly,
More of Thine own blest image gain ;
Oh to be made, as Thou art, holy,
Oh to be freed from sin's dread chain.

Oh to be listening every hour
The more than music of Thy voice ;
Feeling its soothing quickening power,
Bidding the silenced heart rejoice !