On His Birthday, Hymn 31: In Danger of Losing His Friend

Gracious Lord, how long shall I
Tremble at Thy comforts nigh,
Taste with fear my pleasant food,
Start from every creature good?

Kept in awe by my own heart,
Lest Thy gifts I still pervert,
Still Thy holy things profane,
Turn Thy blessings into bane,

Never sure was heart like mine,
Heart so contrary to Thine,
None so wholly lost as me,
Lost in vile idolatry.

Thus I from my birth have been
Grace abusing into sin,
Poorer for the plenty given,
Wretched through the smiles of heaven.

But, my Lord, I cry to Thee,
Must it thus for ever be?
Must I still Thy gifts abuse,
Lose them all, and more than lose?

Shall I force Thee still to take
Thy perverted blessings back?
Blast with my infectious breath,
Doom my fondled joys to death?

Shall my most suspected love
Hurtful to its object prove,
Soon in double ruin end,
Fatal to my dearest friend?

Rather let my soul depart,
Stop the panting of my heart,
Speak again my sins forgiven,
Sweep me off — from earth to heaven!