Scripture Verse

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

Introduction

portrait
George Herbert (1593–1632)

Words: From George Her­bert, in Hymns and Sac­red Po­ems, by Charles Wes­ley, 1739, pag­es 27–28.

Music: Re­turn (Squires) Will­iam H. Squires, 1895 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Squires (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

O King of Grief! (how strange and true
The name, to Je­sus only due!)
How, Sav­ior, shall I grieve for Thee?
Who in all griefs preventest me.

Then let me vie with Thee in love,
And try who there shall conqueror prove,
Giv’st Thou me wealth? I will restore
All back unto Thee by the poor.

Giv’st Thou me honor? All shall see
The honor doth belong to Thee:
A bosom-friend? If false he prove
To Thee, I will tear thence his love.

Thee shall my music find: each string
Shall have his attribute to sing;
And every note accord in Thee,
To prove one God, one harmony.

Giv’st Thou me knowledge? It shall still
Search out Thy ways, Thy works, Thy will:
Yea, I will search Thy Book, nor move
Till I have found therein Thy love.

Thy love I will turn back on Thee:
O my dear Sav­ior, vic­to­ry!
Then for Thy passion, I for that
Will do—alas, I know not what!