Whene'er I bend my knees in prayer

Whene'er I bend my knees in prayer,
Or bow before Thine unseen throne,
Teach me, my God, that Thou art there,
And let that thought, and that alone
Make silence in this noisy breast,
And hush its whispering cares to rest.

Sweep from this heart, Thy sacred shrine,
Earth's smouldering and unhallow'd fires,
Let all its incense, Lord, be Thine,
Thine all its feelings, its desires;
What traitor sin would dare to steal
Its love from Him who bade it feel?

Nor let my hard rebellion force
Thy gentle hand to take the rod,
Thy love to change its peaceful course,
And vindicate a slighted God;
Until Thy triple cord of love
Hath tried to draw, and fail'd to move.