Scripture Verse

The Lord will sustain and strengthen him on his sick bed. Psalm 41:3

Introduction

Words: Ben­ja­min Bed­dome (1717–1795). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship (Lon­don: Bu­rton & Briggs, 1818), num­ber 738. In Time of Sick­ness.

Music: Rest (Mak­er) Fred­er­ick C. Mak­er, 1887 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Bed­dome or Mak­er (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Oh Thou all ho­ly, wise and just,
Whom Heav’n and earth ob­ey;
Thou on­ly ob­ject of my trust,
Whose word can sink me in­to dust,
Or raise my fee­ble clay.

Yielding to what Thou shalt pro­pose,
Behold, Thy crea­ture lies;
Resigned to dwell along with those,
Who in the si­lent grave re­pose,
Or to new health arise.

If now the last de­ci­sive day
Of my frail life draw near,
My soul while faint­ing with dis­may,
From ris­ing crimes in dread ar­ray,
Do Thou with mer­cy cheer.

Or if my past ini­qui­ty,
My dy­ing hour mo­lest,
Yet oh then save me when I die,
Nor to my part­ing soul de­ny,
An en­trance into rest.

But if Thy bound­less grace should spare
My fleet­ing life again;
Let sin no more my soul en­snare,
But love and warm de­vo­tion there,
In bliss­ful un­ion reign.

This for the hon­or of Thy name,
And through the Sav­ior’s blood,
Not as des­ert, but grace I claim,
And in the most sub­mis­sive frame,
Implore of Thee, my God.