Request for Light

  To Thee, O Lord, we lift the voice,
    On Thee our souls rely;
  Thou to the objects of Thy choice
    No good thing wilt deny.

  Thou who hast died to set us free
    From the oppressor strong,
  That to Thy pleasure we might be
    Lights through this darkness long,

  Wilt not to our request for light
    Turn a regardless ear;
  Trackless our way, dark this blind night,
    Venomed the atmosphere.

  Our feeble feet have weary grown,
    The path that Thine have pressed
  We trembling tread, despised and lone
    The highway into rest

  Yet, Lord, the trials of the way,
    Through Thy compassions kind,
  Bring our proud spirits under sway
    To Thine unerring mind.

  And thus the highway to the goal,
    Shining upon our hearts,
  Instruction for the thoughtful soul
    Through grace Divine imparts.

  And to pursue that path aright
    All heavenly grace we need,
  And must, lest we lack needful light,
    To Thy sure Word take heed

  Then give us perfect confidence
    In Thy most perfect Word,
  And let Thy living voice from thence
    Within our souls be heard.

  Let not our faltering footsteps shun
    The journey of the soul,
  Nor let us halt, till we have won
    The empyrean goal.

  With mercy and with grace combined
    Our fainting spirits meet,
  And let us on our journey find
    The impress of Thy feet.

  Search us, and know our inmost hearts,
    Our souls illuminate,
  And lead us by Thy love apart
    From byways maculate.