English poem
GOD'S Presence desireable. Exodus xxxiii. 15
by Philip Doddridge (1773–1832)
Immense, eternal GOD! How marvellous thy Name! Thy Presence all abroad Pervades all Nature's Frame; Heav'n, Earth, and Air, And the dark Cell, Where Devils dwell In long Despair.
Yet thou hast chosen Ways To make thy Presence known, To Fav'rites of thy Grace, To upright Souls alone: This Glory, LORD, My Soul would see, This Grace to me, My GOD, afford.
If thou thy Lustre vail The Charms of Nature fade; All wither'd, weak, and pale, They bow their languid Head: My Father, shine; For thou canst give The Dead to live By Beams divine.
Ev'n Eden's blissful Lands Would in thine Absence mourn; But thou wild Afric's Sands To Paradise canst turn. If GOD be there The Gloom is bright; But Noon is Night, Till thou appear.
Come, for my Spirit glows With infinite Desire! Strong Love impatient grows, And sets my Heart on Fire. My Father, come; That Presence give On which I live; Or call me home.
More by Philip Doddridge
- GOD's incomparable Mercy admired. Micah vii. 18, 19, 20
- GOD's Love to the World in sending CHRIST for its Redemption. John iii. 16
- GOD's Name profaned, when his Table is treated with Contempt. Malachi. i. 12
- GOD'S Name the Encouragement of our Faith. Psalm ix. 10
- GOD's Purposes effectual, and CHRIST's Invitations sincere. John vi. 37
- GOD'S quickening the Dead. Isaiah xxvi. 19
- GOD's Readiness to give all Things argued from the Gift of his Son. Rom. viii. 32
- GOD'S reasonable Expectations from his Vineyard. Isaiah v. 1. 7