1 Why is my heart so far from thee, My God, my chief delight? Why are my thoughts no more by day With thee, no more by night?
2 [Why should my foolish passions rove? Where can such sweetness be As I have tasted in thy love; As I have found in thee?]
3 When my forgetful soul renews The savour of thy grace, My heart presumes I cannot lose The relish all my days.
4 But ere one fleeting hour is pass'd, The flattering world employs Some sensual bait to seize my taste, And to pollute my joys.
5 [Trifles of nature or of art With fair deceitful charms Intrude upon my thoughtless heart, And thrust thee from my arms.]
6 Then I repent and vex my soul That I should leave thee so, Where will those wild affections roll That let a Saviour go?
7 [Sin's promis'd joys are turn'd to pain, And I am drown'd in grief; But my dear Lord returns again, He flies to my relief.
8 Seizing my soul with sweet surprise He draws with loving bands; Divine compassion in his eyes, And pardon in his hands.]
9 [Wretch that I am to wander thus In chase of false delight! Let me be fasten'd to thy cross, Rather than lose thy sight.]
10 [Make haste, my days, to reach the goal, And bring my heart to rest On the dear centre of my soul, My God, my Saviour's breast.]