Scripture Verse

In Thy presence is fullness of joy. Psalm 16:11

Introduction

portrait
William H. Havergal
1793–1870

Words: Anne Steele, Po­ems on Sub­jects Chief­ly De­vo­tion­al 1760.

Music: Ed­en (Ha­ver­gal) Will­iam H. Ha­ver­gal, 1853 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Steele (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Eternal source of joys divine,
To Thee my soul aspires;
O could I say, The Lord is mine,
’Tis all my soul desires.

Thy smile can give me real joy,
Unmingled and refined,
Substantial bliss, without alloy,
And lasting as the mind.

Thy smile can gild the shades of woe,
Bid stormy trouble cease,
Spread the fair dawn of Heav’n below,
And sweeten pain to peace.

My hope, my trust, my life, my Lord,
Assure me of Thy love;
O speak the kind, transporting word,
And bid my fears remove.

Then shall my thankful powers rejoice,
And triumph in my God,
Till heav’nly rapture tune my voice,
To spread Thy praise abroad.