Desiring to Love Christ

Come

let me love: or is my mind

Hardened to stone

or froze to ice?

I see the bless­èd Fair One bend

And stoop t’em­brace me from the skies!

O! ’tis a thought would melt a rock

And make a heart of ir­on move

That those sweet lips

that heav’n­ly look

Should seek and wish a mor­tal love!

I was a trai­tor doomed to fire

Bound to sus­tain eter­nal pains;

He flew on wings of strong de­sire

Assumed my guilt

and took my chains.

Infinite grace! al­migh­ty charms!

Stand in amaze

ye whirl­ing skies

Jesus the God

with nak­ed arms

Hangs on a cross of love

and dies.

Did pi­ty ev­er stoop so low

Dressed in div­in­ity and blood?

Was ev­er re­bel court­ed so

In groans of an ex­pir­ing God?

Again He lives

and spreads His hands

Hands that were nailed to tor­tur­ing smart;

By these dear wounds

says He; and stands

And prays to clasp me to His heart.

Sure I must love; or are my ears

Still deaf

nor will my pass­ion move?

Then let me melt this heart to tears;

This heart shall yield to death or love.