Scripture Verse

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

Introduction

portrait
Robert Lowry (1826–1899)

Words: Ro­bert Low­ry, Bright­est and Best (New York: Big­low & Main, 1875), num­ber 18. Note: This source gives the com­pos­er as R. Low­ry, and the au­thor as R. H. Low­ry. The au­thor cre­dit seems to be a mis­print, as Ro­bert Low­ry is not known to have had a mid­dle name, and his son Ro­bert Han­son Low­ry was on­ly 10 years old when the song was pub­lished.

Music: Bor­deaux Ro­bert Low­ry, 1875 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

O may a strain, like gen­tle rain
On dry and thirs­ty land,
True feel­ing start with­in this heart,
Unfruitful as the sand;
To lift my eyes above the skies,
And raise my hum­ble prayer;
May ev­ery doubt be put to rout,
And van­quished ev­ery fear.

My mind, tho’ bent, my thoughts in­tent,
On swift­ly fleet­ing joys,
Still from my heart may now de­part
This love for earth­ly toys;
Too much of life in anx­ious strife
Has run to waste with me;
In thoughts sub­lime, the rest of time
May I de­vote to Thee.

When comes my end, O Sav­ior, send,
A mes­sage of sweet peace;
When I de­part, O give my heart
Assurance and re­lease;
Then may I bound from this low ground,
To tread the star­ry way,
And on my sight break ho­ly light
In Heav’n’s un­cloud­ed day.

Now, O my soul! let love con­trol
Thro’ life thy ev­ery thought;
By faith still see the things that be,
Reserved for those He bought;
Live on in hope, in wid­est scope
Survey the realms above;
Nor draw aside, but firm abide
In faith, and hope, and love.

illustration
Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)