Scripture Verse

It is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Thy works. Psalm 73:28

Introduction

Words: Hel­en G. Pierce, in The High­way Hym­nal, re­vised edi­tion (Ne­va­da, Io­wa: High­way Of­fice, 1886).

Music: Fres­no Da­ni­el B. Tow­ner, 1898, in Hymns of Faith and Praise (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Lo­renz Pub­lish­ing, 1901), num­ber 109 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Pierce (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Daniel Towner (1850–1919)

Lyrics

Draw me near­er, Je­sus, near­er,
When my heart grows faint with fear;
Help me catch Thy faint­est whis­per,
Give me, Lord, a list­en­ing ear.

Refrain

Nearer, near­er, draw me near­er,
Draw me near­er, Lord, to Thee.
Fill me with Thy Ho­ly Spir­it,
Draw me near­er, Lord, to Thee.

Ask! I hear Thee say, and ask­ing,
Heaven’s rich­est gifts are thine.
Seek, Thou bid­dest me, and seek­ing,
Thou shalt ne­ver fail to find.

Refrain

So I come, dear Sav­ior, knock­ing,
Knocking at sweet mer­cy’s gate,
Why should I for its un­lock­ing
Still in doubt and dark­ness wait?

Refrain

Thou in whom all full­ness dwell­eth,
Wilt Thou now im­part to me,
Something of Thy bless­èd na­ture,
Draw me near­er, Lord, to Thee?

Refrain