Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.
1 Samuel 3:10
Words: John Cawood, in Cotterill’s Selections, 1819.
Music: Mendon German tune, arranged by Samuel Dyer, Supplement of Samuel Dyer’s Third Edition of Sacred Music 1828 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Cawood or Dyer (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
In Israel’s fane, by silent night,
The lamp of God was burning bright;
And there, by viewless angels kept,
Samuel, the child, securely slept.
A voice unknown the stillness broke;
Samuel!
it called, and thrice it spoke;
He rose; he asked whence came the word;
From Eli? No—it was the Lord.
Thus early called to serve his God,
In paths of righteousness he trod;
Prophetic visions fired his breast,
And all the chosen tribes were blest.
Speak, Lord, and from our earliest days
Incline our hearts to love Thy ways;
Thy wakening voice hath reached our ear;
Speak Lord, to us; Thy servants hear.