Desiring to Love, Hymn 6

O Thou, who hast redeem'd of old,
And bidd'st me of Thy strength take hold,
And be at peace with Thee,
Help me Thy benefits to own,
And hear me tell what Thou hast done,
O dying Lamb, for me.

Out of myself for help I go,
Thy only love resolved to know,
Thy love my plea I make:
Give me Thy love; 'tis all I claim:
Give for the honour of Thy name,
Give for Thy mercy's sake.

Canst Thou deny Thy love to me?
Say, Thou Incarnate Deity,
Thou Man of Sorrows, say:
Thy glory why didst Thou enshrine
In such a clod of earth as mine,
And wrap Thee in my clay?

Ancient of Days, why didst Thou come,
And stoop to a poor virgin's womb,
Contracted to a span?
Flesh of our flesh why wast Thou made,
And humbly in a manger laid,
The new-born Son of Man?

Why didst Thou in this vale of tears,
For more than thirty mournful years,
A life of sufferings lead?
Why did Thine eyes with tears o'erflow?
Why wouldst Thou choose to want below
A place to lay Thy head?

Love, only love, Thy heart inclined,
And brought Thee, Saviour of mankind,
Down from Thy throne above:
Love made my God a man of grief,
Distress'd Thee sore for my relief:
O mystery of love!

To fill my soul it emptied Thee,
It made Thee poor, that I might be
Enrich'd with every grace:
Love made Thee to Thy Father cry,
And hid His face from Thee, that I
Might always see His face.

Quite from the manger to the cross
Thy life one scene of sufferings was,
And all sustain'd for me:
O strange excess of love Divine!
Jesus, was ever love like Thine!
Answer me from that tree!

If Thou couldst stoop for me to die,
Surely Thou wouldst that I, even I,
Thy death's effect should prove;
Then help me for Thy mercy's sake,
To weep, believe, and pay Thee back
Thy dear expiring love.

Because Thou lovedst, and diedst for me,
Cause me, my Jesus, to love Thee,
And gladly to resign
Whate'er I have, whate'er I am;
My life be all with Thine the same,
And all Thy death be mine!