Can Aught Below Engross My Thoughts?

Can aught be­low en­gross my thoughts?

Or am I to the world con­fined?

Nay

let my pure af­fect­ions soar

To ob­jects of a nob­ler kind!

I know I’m but a pil­grim here

That seeks a bet­ter

pro­mised land:

Then may I run and nev­er tire

’Till that ce­les­ti­al home’s ob­tained.

Resolved to tread the sac­red way

That Je­sus wa­tered with His blood

I bend my fixed and cheer­ful course

On that rough path my mas­ter trod.

Contemptuous of the world I live

A dai­ly death re­joice to die:

And

while I move and walk be­low

My ab­sent heart mounts up on high.

O Light of life

still guide my steps

Without Thy friend­ly aid I stray:

Lead me

my God

for I am blind

Direct me and point out my way.

Let this vain world ap­plaud or frown

Still may I Heav­en’s path pur­sue:

Still may I stand un­shook

and keep

The cen­ter of my hopes in view!

What is the world’s good word to me

If by my God from glo­ry driv’n?

Can it re­deem my soul from hell

Or re­com­pense my loss of Heav’n?

Tho’ Sa­tan

earth

and self op­pose

Yet

through Thy help

I’ll per­se­vere;

To Ca­naan’s hills my eyes lift up.

And choose my lot and por­tion there.

The way that leads to glo­ry lies

Through ill re­port

con­tempt and loss

Assist me to de­ny my­self

To fol­low Thee and bear Thy cross.

Let Sa­tan nev­er come be­tween

Nor se­pa­rate my God and me;

But may my soul

in ev­ery storm

Find its sure rest­ing place in Thee.