Hymnal: A Selection of Christian Hymns
Date: 1818
Compiler: Rice Haggard
Publisher/Printer: John Norvell
First Line: Should bounteous nature kindly pour
Topic: God Perfect
Writer: <no first name given> <no last name given>
Composer:
Meter: CM
Tune:
Hymn Number: 265
Page Number: 250, click to see hymnal pages
LyicsShould bounteous nature kindly pour
Her richest gifts on me,
Still, O my God, I should be poor,
If void of love to thee.
Not shining wit, nor manly sense,
Could make me truly good:
Not zeal itself could recompense
The want of love to God.
Did I possess the gift of tongues,
But were deny'd thy grace,
My loudest words, my loftiest songs
Would be but sounding brass.
Tho' thou should'st give me heavenly skill,
Each mystery to explain,
If I'd no heart to do thy will,
My knowledge would be vain.
Had I so strong a faith, my God,
As mountains to remove,
No faith could do me real good,
That did not work by love.
(What tho' to gratify my pride,
And make my heaven secure,
All my possessions I divide,
Among the hungry poor!
What tho' my body I consign
To the devouring flame,
In hope the glorious deed will shine
In rolls of endless fame!
These splendid acts of vanity,
Tho' all the world applaud,
If destitute of charity,
Can never please my God)
O grant me thou this one request,
And I'll be satisfy'd;
That love divine may rule my breast,
And all my actions guide.