Scripture Verse

Thy will be done. Matthew 6:10

Introduction

portrait
William Cowper (1731–1800)

Words: Will­iam Cow­per, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­iv­er, 1779), Book 3, num­ber 29. Sub­mis­sion.

Music: Je­ru­sa­lem (Sta­ni­forth) T. Wors­ley Sta­ni­forth, 1866 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

O Lord, my best desire fulfill,
And help me to resign,
Life, health, and comfort to Thy will,
And make Thy pleasure mine.

Why should I shrink at Thy command,
Whose love forbids my fears?
Or tremble at the gracious hand
That wipes away my tears?

No, let me rather freely yield
What most I prize to Thee;
Who ne­ver hast a good withheld,
Or wilt withhold from me.

Thy favor, all my journey through,
Thou art engaged to grant;
What else I want, or think I do,
’Tis better still to want.

Wisdom and mercy guide my way,
Shall I resist them both?
A poor blind creature of a day,
And crushed before the moth!

But ah! my inward spirit cries,
Still bind me to Thy sway;
Else the next cloud that veils my skies
Drives all these thoughts away.