God…who keepest covenant and mercy with Thy servants that walk before Thee with all their heart.
1 Kings 8:23
Words: Reginald Heber (1783–1826). Published posthumously in Hymns Written and Adapted to the Weekly Service of the Church Year (London: J. Murray, 1827), page 26. St. John the Evangelist’s Day.
Music: Brookfield Thomas B. Southgate, 1855 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Southgate (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Oh God! who gav’st Thy servant grace
Amid the storms of life distressed,
To look on Thine incarnate face,
And lean on Thy protecting breast.
To see the light that dimly shone,
Eclipsed for us in sorrow pale,
Pure image of the Eternal One!
Through shadows of Thy mortal veil!
Be ours, O King of mercy! still
To feel Thy presence from above,
And in Thy word and in Thy will
To hear Thy voice and know Thy love.
And when the toils of life are done,
And nature waits Thy dread decree,
To find our rest beneath Thy throne,
And look in certain hope to Thee!