Hymn 198. The Chief Good. 

         In vain the erring world enquires,

                     For true substantial good:

         While earth confines their low desires,

                     They live on airy food. 

         Illusive dreams of happiness                                                         

                     Their eager thoughts employ;

         They wake, convinc’d their boasted bliss

                     Was visionary joy. 

         Begone, ye gilded vanities;

                     I seek some solid good;                                                         

         To real bliss my wishes rise,

                     The Favour of my God. 

         My God, to thee my soul aspires;

                     Dispel the shades of night,

         Enlarge and fill these vast desires,                                            

                     With infinite delight.

         Immortal joys thy smiles impart,

                     Heaven dawns in every ray;

         One glimpse of thee will glad my heart,

                 And turn my night to day.                                            

         Not all the good which earth bestows,

                     Can fill the craving mind;

         Its highest joys have mingled woes,

                     And leave a sting behind.

         Should boundless wealth increase my store,                            

                     Can wealth my cares beguile?

         I should be wretched still, and poor

                     Without thy blissful smile.

         Grant, O my God, this one request;

                     Oh, be thy love alone                                                             

         My ample portion, – here I rest,

                     For Heaven is in the boon.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 1, pp. 52-53; Collection of Hymns Adapted to Public Worship, no. 198 (all stanzas); Poems, 1780, vol. 1, pp. 30-31; MS, Steele Collection, STE 3/1/1 no. 12, Angus Library, Regents Park College,  Oxford. In Collection, stanza IV was excluded and the title altered. The MS has nine stanzas, with an extra stanza between stanzas 7 and 8 above:

Arise, and bless my longing Soul,

With smiles of Love and peace,

This only can my cares controul,

For this is Happiness.