The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
Words: Reginald Heber, in the Christian Observer, October 1811.
Music: Angelus Georg Joseph, Heilige Seelenlust (Breslau [now Wrocław, Poland]: 1657) (set to the words Du meiner Seelen güldne Ziehr) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Joseph (head-and-shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels), would you ?
O Savior, Is Thy promise fled?
Nor longer might Thy grace endure,
To heal the sick, and raise the dead,
And preach Thy Gospel to the poor?
Come, Jesus! come! return again:
With brighter beams Thy servants bless,
Who long to feel Thy perfect reign,
And share Thy kingdom’s happiness!
A feeble race, by passion driv’n,
In darkness and in doubt we roam,
And lift our anxious eyes to Heav’n,
Our hope, our harbor, and our home!
Yet, ’mid the wild and wintry gale,
When Death rides darkly o’er the sea,
And strength and earthly daring fail,
Our prayers, Redeemer! rest on Thee!
Come, Jesus! come! and, as of yore,
Thy prophet went to clear Thy way,
A harbinger Thy feet before,
A dawning to Thy brighter day.
So now may grace with heav’nly shower
Our stony hearts for truth prepare;
Sow in our souls the seed of power,
Then come and reap Thy harvest there!