My Soul Desires the Word

My soul de­sires the word

As in­fants seek the breast;

To me its sacr­ed pro­mis­es

Afford a con­stant feast.

When I be­hold the page

Where Je­sus’ glo­ries shine

A ge­ni­al warmth spreads o’er my soul

The pow­er of love di­vine.

Its pre­cepts are a light

To guide me lest I stray

A shin­ing lamp around my path

To show my feet the way.

Its threat­en­ings awe the mind

And make me fear to sin;

And while Thy word is my de­light

It keeps my con­science clean.

’Tis here

in deep dis­tress

I solid comfort find;

Beneath the frown­ings of the world

It soothes the trou­bled mind.

From im­per­fect­ion free

In it all rich­es meet;

Not pur­est gold is half so dear

Nor ho­ney half so sweet.