O Thou that lovest as none else can love—
O Thou that knowest as none else can know—
O Thou that hast Thy dwelling far above
This weary wilderness of want and woe,
Teach us true knowledge, heavenly, divine,
That we may live in that great love of Thine.
We are the Living Father’s gift to Thee,
In man’s account of less than little worth,
But in Thy gracious estimation we
The excellent are counted of the earth.
This Thine appraisement is of all that leave
Country and kindred, to Thyself to cleave.
We are a little flock, a feeble few,
Beset by grievous wolves and men perverse,
Who with relentless zeal our souls pursue,
And Thy fair fame with lying lips asperse.
Oh, guard us safely thro’ this moonless night
By Thy great grace, and by Thy matchless might.
Thou canst not be indifferent we know
To all the falsehood that to light is brought;
Thou hast Thine eye upon the wiley foe,
And all the wrong by evil angels wrought,
And Thou well able art to deal with all
That often does our feeble faith appal.
Called by the Father in His grace supreme
Apart from this vain world, we follow Thee
To that loved land where fadeless glories gleam,
And where Thy face with rapture we shall see:
That world from every mortal eye concealed,
But by Thy Spirit unto faith revealed.
Each footstep taken thro’ this tiresome waste
Brings us a little nearer to the goal.
We would not hurry with irreverent haste,
To satisfy the longing of the soul,
For Thou to bring us there wilt not delay
One hour when dawns the long appointed day.
The Father loveth us, for Thee we love:
Love, matchless love, in death made manifest,
Knowledge—surpassing, by the Heavenly Dove
Poured out into the erstwhile vacant breast.
O love beyond our measure, yet we know
It has been measured by Thy cross of woe.
What shall we ask, then, Saviour, at Thy hand?
We ask the power to press upon our way;
And that still better we may understand
The grace that guards us safe by night and day;
Assured that till we reach our home above
Our portion shall be love, FOR GOD IS LOVE.