So grant me, God, from every care And stain of passion free, Aloft, through Virtue's purer air, To hold my course to thee! No sin to cloud, no lure to stay My soul, as home she springs; Thy sunshine on her joyful way, Thy freedom in her wings! --Thomas Moore. A PRAYER O that mine eyes might closed be To what concerns me not to see; That deafness might possess mine ear To what concerns me not to hear; That truth my tongue might always tie From ever speaking foolishly; That no vain thought might ever rest Or be conceived within my breast; That by each deed and word and thought Glory may to my God be brought. But what are wishes! Lord, mine eye On Thee is fixed; to Thee I cry! Wash, Lord, and purify my heart, And make it clean in every part; And when 'tis clean, Lord, keep it, too, For that is more than I can do. --Thomas Elwood, A. D. 1639. THE ALTERED MOTTO O the bitter shame and sorrow, That a time could ever be When I let the Saviour's pity Plead in vain, and proudly answered, "All of self, and none of Thee!" Yet He found me; I beheld him Bleeding on the accursed tree, Heard him pray, "Forgive them, Father!" And my wistful heart said faintly, "Some of self and some of Thee." Day by day his tender mercy, Healing, helping, full and free, Sweet and strong, and, ah! so patient, Brought me lower, while I whispered, "Less of self, and more of Thee." Higher than the highest heaven, Deeper than the deepest sea, Lord, thy love at last hath conquered; Grant me now my supplication-- "None of self, and all of Thee." --Theodore Monod. INDWELLING O dwell in me, my Lord, That I in thee may dwell; Fulfill thy tender word, That thy evangels tell; In me Thou, I in thee, By thy sweet courtesy. But wilt thou my guest be, In this poor heart of mine? Thy guest? Is this for me In that pure heart of thine? In me thou, I in thee, By thy sweet courtesy. My chamber, Lord, prepare Whither thou deignest come; I may not seek to share The making of thy home; In me thou, I in thee, By thy sweet courtesy. Thy gracious gifts bestow, Humility and love; O cause my heart to glow By fire sent from above. In me thou, I in thee, By thy sweet courtesy. --Alexander B. Grosart. Thy name to me, thy nature grant; This, only this be given; Nothing besides my God I want, Nothing in earth or heaven. Come, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost And seal me thine abode; Let all I am in thee be lost, Let all I am be God. --Charles Wesley. PERFECTION O how the thought of God attracts, And draws the heart from earth, And sickens it of passing shows And dissipating mirth!