The Soul's Enquiry

Draw near to God, beloved soul,

And let Him hear thee tell

The secret workings of thy heart,

Though known to Him full well.

Is Jesu's love to thee as fresh

As when, in days of yore,

Thou drewest near, in trembling,

His pardon to implore

As when the healing fountain of

His mercy poured on thee

The streams of grace and boundless wealth,

He earned on Calvary's tree.

When He in patient agony

And meekness bore the rod,

That dealt the punishment for sin

Between thy soul and God.

Or has thy love grown cold and faint,

And wandering thy desires,

Not fed with ardent, glowing zeal,

As by the Spirit's fires?

Or has thy knowledge of Himself

But deepened day by day?

Until thine overflowing heart

Can rise, and praise, and say,

"Thou altogether loveliest,

Chief of ten thousand Thou;

In wondering adoration, Lord,

Before Thy worth I bow!"

Ah! well for thee, my soul, if such

A blessed state be thine;

If, drawn through His perfections now,

Thy love can brighter shine.

For when, in unveiled glory, soon

Thine eyes behold Him there,

And Thou in all His loveliness

And deep affection share -

Thy spirit undistracted then,

A purer song shall raise

To Him who brought thee home to God,

And trained thy heart to praise.