Olives that have known no pressure

Olives that have known no pressure

No oil can bestow;

If the grapes escape the winepress

Cheering wine can never flow;

Spikenard only through the crushing

Fragrance can diffuse.

Shall I then

Lord

shrink from suff’ring

Which Thy love for me would choose?

Each blow I suffer

Is true gain to me.

In the place of what Thou takest

Thou dost give Thyself to me.

Do my heart-strings need Thy stretching

Songs divine to prove?

Do I need for sweetest music

Cruel treatment of Thy love?

Lord

I fear no deprivation

If it draws to Thee;

I would yield in full surrender

All Thy heart of love to see.

I’m ashamed

my Lord

for seeking

Self to guard alway;

Though Thy love has done its stripping

Yet I’ve been compelled this way.

Lord

according to Thy pleasure

Fully work on me;

Heeding not my human feelings

Only do what pleases Thee.

If Thy mind and mine should differ

Still pursue Thy way;

If Thy pleasure means my sorrow

Still my heart shall answer

“Yea!”

’Tis my deep desire to please Thee

Though I suffer loss;

E’en though Thy delight and glory

Mean that I endure the cross.

Oh

I’ll praise Thee

e’en if weeping

Mingle with my song.

Thine increasing sweetness calls forth

Grateful praises all day long.

Thou hast made Thyself more precious

Than all else to me:

Thou increase and I decrease

Lord—

This is now my only plea.