How tedious and tasteless the hours

How tedious and tasteless the hours

When Jesus no longer I see!

Sweet prospects

sweet birds and sweet flow’rs

Have all lost their sweetness to me.

The midsummer sun shines but dim

The fields strive in vain to look gay;

But when I am happy in Him

December’s as pleasant as May.

His name yields the richest perfume

And sweeter than music His voice;

His presence disperses my gloom

And makes all within me rejoice.

I should

were He always thus nigh

Have nothing to wish or to fear;

No mortal so happy as I;

My summer would last all the year.

Content with beholding His face

My all to His pleasure resigned;

No changes of season or place

Would make any change in my mind.

While blessed with a sense of His love

A palace a toy would appear;

And prisons would palaces prove

If Jesus would dwell with me there.

My Lord

if indeed I am Thine

If Thou art my sun and my song

Say

why do I languish and pine?

And why are my winters so long?

Oh

drive these dark clouds from the sky

Thy soul-cheering presence restore;

Or take me to Thee up on high

Where winter and clouds are no more.