Scripture Verse

Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not. Jeremiah 45:5

Introduction

portrait
William A. Ogden (1841–1897)

Words: J. J. Max­field, in Gos­pel Hymns No. 6, by Ira D. San­key et al. (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: John Church, 1891), num­ber 44.

Music: Will­iam A. Og­den (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Max­field’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

This was a fa­vor­ite hymn of Mr. Moody dur­ing our last cam­paign in Scot­land. As we went from place to place the choirs which had sung at our meet­ings would oft­en ga­ther at the sta­tions and sing this and oth­er hymns at our part­ing.

Sankey, p. 338

Lyrics

I do not ask for earth­ly store
Beyond a day’s sup­ply;
I on­ly co­vet, more and more,
The clear and sin­gle eye,
To see my du­ty face to face,
And trust the Lord for dai­ly grace.

Refrain

Then shall my heart keep sing­ing,
While to the cross I cling;
For rest is sweet at Je­sus’ feet,
While home­ward faith keeps wing­ing,
While home­ward faith keeps wing­ing.

I care not for the emp­ty show
That thought­less world­lings see;
I crave to do the best I know,
And leave the rest with Thee—
Well sa­tis­fied that sweet re­ward
Is sure to those who trust the Lord.

Refrain

Whate’er the cross­es mine shall be,
I will not dare to shun;
I only ask to live for Thee,
And that Thy will be done;
Thy will, O Lord, be mine each day,
While press­ing on my home­ward way.

Refrain

And when at last, my la­bor o’er,
I cross the nar­row sea,
Grant, Lord, that on the oth­er shore
My soul may dwell with Thee,
And learn what here I can­not know,
Why Thou hast ev­er loved me so.

Refrain