Scripture Verse

I build a house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to Him. 2 Chronicles 2:4

Introduction

portrait
Lawrence Tuttiett (1825–1897)

Words: Law­rence Tut­ti­ett, 1864. Tut­ti­ett wrote this hymn while vi­car of Lea Mars­ton, War­wick­shire, Eng­land.

Music: Fa­ther, Let Me De­di­cate George A. Mac­far­ren, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1872 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

portrait
George A. MacFarren (1813–1887)

Lyrics

Father, let me de­di­cate,
All this year to Thee,
In what­ev­er world­ly state
Thou wilt have me be:
Not from sor­row, pain or care,
Freedom dare I claim;
This alone shall be my pray­er,
Glorify Thy name.

Can a child pre­sume to choose
Where or how to live?
Can a Fa­ther’s love re­fuse
All the best to give?
More Thou giv­est ev­ery day
Than the best can claim
Nor withhold­est aught that may
Glorify Thy name.

If in mer­cy Thou wilt spare
Joys that yet are mine;
If on life, se­rene and fair,
Brighter rays may shine;
Let my glad heart, while it sings,
Thee in all pro­claim,
And, what­e’er the fu­ture brings,
Glorify Thy name.

If Thou call­est to the cross,
And its sha­dow come,
Turning all my gain to loss,
Shrouding heart and home;
Let me think how Thy dear Son
To His glo­ry came,
And in deep­est woe pray on,
Glorify Thy name.

Some hym­nals change the last verse to:

If we must in grief and loss
Thy be­hest ob­ey,
If be­neath the sha­dowy cross
Liest our home­ward way;
We will think what Thy dear Son
Once for us be­came,
And re­peat till life is done,
Glorify Thy name.