I Said, my God, at Length
I said, my God, at length,
This evil heart remove,
Deny all other strength,
But give me strength to love.
Come nearer, nearer still,
The hidden life impart;
Bend, break this stubborn will,
Dissolve this stony heart.
Less wayward let me be,
More pliable and mild;
In meek simplicity
More like a trustful child.
Less, less of self each day,
Less of the world and sin;
More of Thy Son I pray,
More of Thyself within.
More moulded to Thy will
In all things I would be;
Higher and higher still,
Liker and liker Thee.
Leave nought that is unmeet:
Of all that is mine own
Strip me, and so complete
My likeness to Thy Son.
Riper, and riper now,
Each hour let me become;
More fit to serve below;
More meet for heaven my home.
