Hymn 167. Life and Safety in Christ Alone

Thou only sovereign of my heart,

My refuge, my almighty friend, –

And can my soul from thee depart,

On whom alone my hopes depend?

Whither, ah! whither shall I go,

A wretched wanderer from my Lord?

Can this dark world of sin and woe,

One glimpse of happiness afford?

Eternal life thy words impart,

On these my fainting spirit lives;

Here sweeter comforts cheer my heart,

Than all the round of nature gives.

Let earth’s alluring joys combine,

While thou art near, in vain they call;

One smile, one blissful smile of thine,

My dearest Lord, outweighs them all.

Thy name my inmost powers adore,

Thou art my life, my joy, my care:

Depart from thee – ’tis death, ’tis more,

’Tis endless ruin, deep despair.

Low at thy feet my soul would lie,

Here Safety dwells, and Peace divine;

Still let me live beneath thine eye,

For life, eternal life is thine.

Collection of Hymns Adapted to Public Worship, no. 167 (all six stanzas); Poems, 1780, vol. 1, pp. 54-5; MS, Steele Collection, Angus Library, Regents Park College, STE 3/1/1 no. 24; also Nonconformist Women Writers, vol. 1, pp. 69-70.