Hymn 387. Communion with Christ at his Table

         To Jesus, our exalted Lord,

         (Dear name, by Heaven and earth ador’d!)

         Fain would our hearts and voices raise

         A cheerful song of sacred praise.

         But all the notes which mortals know,                                                

         Are weak and languishing and low;

         Far, far above our humble songs,

         The theme demands immortal tongues.

         Yet while around his board we meet,

         And worship at his glorious feet;                                                          

         O let our warm affections move

         In glad returns of grateful love.

         Yes, Lord, we love and we adore,

         But long to know and love thee more;

         And while we taste the bread and wine,                                              

         Desire to feed on joys divine.

         Let faith our feeble senses aid,

         To see thy wonderous love display’d,

         Thy broken flesh, thy bleeding veins,

         The dreadful agonizing pains!                                                              

         Let humble penitential woe,

         With painful, pleasing anguish flow,

         And thy forgiving smiles impart

         Life, hope, and joy, to every heart.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 1, pp. 152-53; Collection of Hymns Adapted to Public Worship, no. 387 (all stanzas); Poems, 1780, vol. 1, pp. 176-77; MS, Steele Collection, STE 3/1/1 no. 99, Angus Library, Regents Park College,  Oxford.