University of Virginia Library

“Not yours but you.”

He died for me: what can I offer Him?
Toward Him swells incense of perpetual prayer;
His court wear crowns and aureoles round their hair;
His ministers are subtle cherubim,
Ring within ring, white intense seraphim
Leap like immortal lightnings thro' the air:
What shall I offer Him? defiled and bare
My spirit broken and my brightness dim.—
Give Me thy youth;—I yield it to Thy rod
As Thou didst yield Thy prime of youth for me:—
Give Me thy life;—I give it breath by breath
As Thou didst give Thy life so give I Thee:—
Give Me thy love;—So be it, my God, my God,
As Thou hast loved me even to bitter death.