amazing grace

O Thou Giving God,

My heart is drawn out in thankfulness to thee,

for thy amazing grace and condescension to me

in influences and assistances of thy Spirit,

for special help in prayer,

for the sweetness of Christian service,

fro the thoughts of arriving in heaven,

for always sending me needful supplies,

for raising me to knew life when I am like one dead.

I want not the favour of man ot lean upon

for thy favour is infinitely better.

Thou art eternal wisdom in dispensations towards me;

and it matters not when, nor where, nor how I serve thee,

nor what trials I am exercised with ,

if I might but be prepared for thy work and will.

No poor creature stands in need of divine grace more than I do,

And yet none abuses it more than I have done, and still do.

How heartless and dull I am!

Humble me in the dust for not loving thee more.

Every time I exercise any grace renewedly

I am renewedly indebted to thee,

the God of grace, for special assistance.

I cannot boast when I think how dependant

I am upon thee for the being and every act of grace;

I never do anything else but depart from thee,

and if I ever get to heaven it will be beacuse thou willest it,

and for no reason beside.

I love, as a feeble, afflicted, despised creature,

to cast myself on thy infinite grace and goodness,

hoping for no happiness but from thee;

Give me special grace to fit me fro special services,

and keep me calm and resigned at all times,

humble, solemn, mortified,

and conformed to thy will.

From The Valley of Vision