Scripture Verse

To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Introduction

Words: Ja­nette Pal­mi­ter, in Spi­ri­tu­al Songs and Hymns for Pil­grims, New Church edi­tion, ed­it­ed by Ben­ja­min Ti­tus Ro­berts (New York: B. T. Ro­berts, 1879), alt.

Music: Ter­no­pil Will­iam J. Kirk­pat­rick, 1885 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
William J. Kirkpatrick (1838–1921)

Lyrics

O God, my heart doth long for Thee:
Let me die, let me die.
Now set my soul at liberty:
Let me die, let me die.
To all the trifling things of earth,
They’re now to me of little worth;
My Sav­ior calls, I’m going forth:
Let me die, let me die.

Thy slaying power in me display,
Let me die, let me die.
I must be dead from day to day,
Let me die, let me die.
Unto the world and its applause,
To all the customs, fashions, laws,
Of those who hate the humbling cross,
Let me die, let me die.

My friends may say, I’ll ruined be,
Let me die, let me die.
But all I leave, and follow Thee,
Let me die, let me die.
Their arguments will ne­ver weigh,
Nor stand the trying judg­ment day;
Help me to cast them all away,
Let me die, let me die.

Oh, must I die to scoffs and jeers,
Let me die, let me die.
I must be freed from slavish fears,
Let me die, let me die.
So dead that no desire shall rise
To pass for good, or great, or wise,
In any but my Sav­ior’s eyes!
Let me die, let me die.

If Christ would live and reign in me,
I must die, I must die.
Like Him I cru­ci­fied must be,
I must die, I must die.
Lord, drive the nails, nor heed the groans,
My flesh may writhe, and make its moans,
But in this way and this alone,
I must die, I must die.

Begin at once to drive the nails,
I must die, I must die.
Oh, suffer not my heart to fail,
I must die, I must die.
O Christ, I look to Thee for power
To help me to endure the hour
When, cru­ci­fied by sovereign power,
I shall die, I shall die.

When I am dead, then, Lord, to Thee
I shall live, I shall live!
My time, my strength, my all to Thee,
Will I give, will I give.
Oh, may the Son now make me free!
Here, Lord, I give my all to Thee,
For time and for eternity,
I will live, I will live.