By A Collection of Hymns

      C.M.
      1 LONG have I seemed to serve thee, Lord,
      With unavailing pain;
      Fasted, and prayed, and read thy word,
      And heard it preached in vain.

      2 Oft did I with the assembly join,
      And near thine altar drew;
      A form of godliness was mine,
      The power I never knew.

      3 I rested in the outward law,
      Nor knew its deep design;
      The length and breadth I never saw,
      And height, of love divine.

      4 To please thee thus, at length I see,
      Vainly I hoped and strove;
      For what are outward things to thee,
      Unless they spring from love?

      5 I see the perfect law requires
      Truth in the inward parts,
      Our full consent, our whole desires,
      Our undivided hearts.

      6 But I of means have made my boast.
      Of means an idol made;
      The spirit in the letter lost,
      The substance in the shade.

      7 Where am I now, or what my hope?
      What can my weakness do?
      Jesus, to thee my soul looks up,
      'Tis thou must make it new.