My soul, would'st thou behold thy God

My soul, would'st thou behold thy God,
Would'st thou for ever be
There, where thy sight can bear His light
Thro' all eternity?
Would'st thou arise to those pure skies
Where no sin-clouds obscure,
And there abide, with Him who died?
Thou must, my heart, be pure!

Thy pride must be abased,
Thy passions must lie still,
Thy wand'ring wishes bounded
By God's most holy will:
All He commandeth thou must love,
All He appoints endure,
And every day keep sin away,
Would'st thou, my soul, be pure!

Yet who can check the risings
Of sin in thee, my soul,
What mortal power watch every hour,
And every thought controul;
What tears or pains can cleanse thy stains,
What vows thy sickness cure,
From sin release, vouchsafe thee peace,
And make and keep thee pure?

Thank God there is a Fountain
To wash in, and be clean;
A Spirit which can change thee
From what thyself hast been:
Wash'd in that Fount, that Spirit seek
To make thy calling sure;
Watch, strive, and pray, from day to day,
And God will keep thee pure.