AN HYMN ON SIMPLICITY,
From the German.
I
Jesu! Teach this Heart of mine
True Simplicity to find,—
Child-like, innocent, Divine,
Free from Guile of ev'ry Kind;
And since, when amongst us vouchsafing to live,
So pure an Example it pleas'd Thee to give;
O let me keep still the Bright Pattern in View,
And be, after Thy Likeness, right simple and true!
II
When I read, or when I hear
Truths that kindle good Desires;
How to act, and how to bear
What Heav'n-instructed Faith requires:
Let no subtle Fancies e'er lead me astray,
Or teach me to comment Thy Doctrines away;
No Reas'nings of selfish Corruption within,
Nor Sleights by which Satan deludes us to Sin.
III
Whilst I pray before Thy Face,
Thou Who art my Highest Good,
O confirm to me the Grace
Purchas'd by Thy Precious Blood;
That, with a true filial Affection of Heart,
I may feel what a Real Redeemer Thou art;
And, thro' Thy Atonement to Justice above,
Be receiv'd as a Child by the Father of Love!
IV
Give me, with a Child-like Mind
Simply to believe Thy Word,
And to do whate'er I find
Pleases best my Dearest Lord;
Resolving to practice Thy gracious Commands;
To resign myself wholly up into Thy Hands:
That, regarding Thee simply in all my Employ,
I may cry “Abba! Father!” with dutiful Joy!
V
Nor within me nor without
Let Hypocrisy reside;
But whate'er I go about,
Mere Simplicity be Guide!
Simplicity guide me in Word and in Will;
Let me live,—let me die,—in Simplicity still;
Of an Epitaph made me let this be the Whole:
“Here lies a true Child, that was simple of Soul!”
VI
Jesu! Now I fix my Heart,
Prince of Life and Source of Bliss,
Never from Thee to depart,
Till Thy Love shall grant me this!
Then, then, shall my Heart all its Faculties raise,
Both here and hereafter to sing to Thy Praise!
Oh joyful! My Saviour says “So let it be!”
Amen, to my Soul,—Hallelujah, to Thee!
