English poem
Appeal to CHRIST for the Sincerity of Love to him. John xxi. 15
by Philip Doddridge (1773–1832)
Do not I love Thee, O my Lord? Behold my Heart and see; And turn each cursed Idol out, That dures to rival Thee.
Do not I love Thee from my Soul? Then let me Nothing love: Dead be my Heart to ev'ry Joy, When Jesus cannot move.
Is not thy Name melodious still To mine attentive Ear? Doth not each Pulse with Pleasure bound My Saviour's Voice to hear?
Hast Thou a Lamb in all thy Flock, I would disdain to feed? Hast Thou a Foe, before whose Face I fear thy Cause to plead?
Would not mine ardent Spirit vie With Ange's round the Throne, To execute thy sacred Will, And make thy Glory known?
Would not my Heart pour forth its Blood In Honour of thy Name? And challenge the cold Hand of Death To damp th' immortal Flame?
Thou know'st I love Thee, Dearest Lord: But O! I long to soar Far from the Sphere of mortal Joys, And learn to love Thee more.
More by Philip Doddridge
- An Evening HYMN, to be used when composing oneself to sleep
- An Hymn for a Fast-Day in Time of War
- An immediate Attention to GOD's Voice required. Heb. iii. 15
- Angels and Christians united in CHRIST as their common Head. Coloss. ii. 10
- Asking the Way to Zion, in order to joining in Covenant with GOD. Jerem. l. 5
- Backsliding Israel invited to return to GOD. Jerem. iii. 12, 13
- Bearing the Image of the earthy and the heavenly Adam. 1 Cor. xv. 49
- Beholding Transgressors with Grief. Psalm cxix. 136, 158