A Prayer for Holiness

Ever fainting with desire,
For Thee, O Christ, I call;
Thee I restlessly require,
I want my God, my all;
Jesu, dear redeeming Lord,
I wait Thy coming from above:
Help me, Saviour, speak the word,
And perfect me in love.
Wilt Thou suffer me to go
Lamenting all my days?
Shall I never, never know
Thy sanctifying grace?
Wilt Thou not Thy light afford,
The darkness from my soul remove?
Help me, Saviour, &c.
Wretched, naked, poor, and blind,
Afflicted and distrest,
Settled peace I cannot find,
Uninterrupted rest,
Till my spirit is restored,
And fix'd my heart on things above:
Help me, Saviour, &c.
Gifts, alas! cannot suffice,
And comforts all are vain;
While' one evil thought can rise,
I am not born again;
Still I am not as my Lord,
Thy holy will I do not prove:
Help me, Saviour, &c.

Why hast Thou on me bestow'd
Thy free, preventing grace?
Why beheld me in my blood,
And call'd to seek Thy face?
Thou hast not my soul abhorr'd,
But still with me Thy Spirit strove:
Help me, Saviour, &c.

Why didst Thou my ransom pay,
The work of faith begin?
Surely Thou hast purged away
The guilt of all my sin;
All the guilt 's on Thee transferr'd:
And wilt Thou not the power remove?
Help me, Saviour, &c.

Lord, if I on Thee believe,
The second gift impart;
With the' indwelling Spirit give
A new, a loving heart:
If with love Thy heart is stored,
If now o'er me Thy bowels move,
Help me, Saviour, &c.

Let me gain my calling's hope,
O make the sinner clean;
Dry corruption's fountain up,
Cut off the' entail of sin:
Take me into Thee, my Ixrd,
And I shall then no longer rove:
Help me, Saviour, &c.

Thou my life, my treasure be,
My portion here below;
Nothing would I seek but Thee,
Thee only would I know,
My exceeding great reward,
My heaven on earth, my heaven above
Help me, Saviour, &c.

Grant me now the bliss to feel
Of those that are in Thee;
Son of God, Thyself reveal,
Engrave Thy name on me;
As in heaven be here adored,
And let me now the promise prove:
Help me, Saviour, speak the word,
And perfect me in love.