Ever Fainting With Desire

Ever fainting with desire,
For thee, O Christ, I call;

Ever fainting with desire,
For thee, O Christ, I call;
Thee I restlessly require,
I want my God, my all!
Jesu, dear redeeming Lord,
I wait thy coming from above;
Help me, Saviour, speak the word,
And perfect me in love.

Wilt thou suffer me to go
Lamenting all my days?
Shall I never, never know
Thy sanctifying grace?
Wilt thou not the light afford,
The darkness from my soul remove?
Help me, Saviour, speak the word,
And perfect me in love.

Lord, if I on thee believe,
The second gift impart;
With the indwelling Spirit give
A new, a contrite heart;
If with love thy heart is stored,
If now o’er me thy mercies move,
Help me, Saviour, speak the word,
And perfect me in love.

Let me gain my calling’s hope,
O make the sinner clean!
Dry corruption’s fountain up,
Cut off the entail of sin;
Take me into thee, my Lord,
And I shall then no longer rove:
Help me, Saviour, speak the word,
And perfect me in love.

Thou, my Life, my treasure be,
My Portion here below;
Nothing would I seek but thee,
Thee only would I know,
My exceeding great reward,
My heaven on earth, my heaven above!
Help me, Saviour, speak the word,
And perfect me in love.

Grant me now the bliss to feel
Of those that are in thee;
Son of God, thyself reveal,
Engrave thy name on me;
As in heaven be here adored,
And let me now the promise prove;
Help me, Saviour, speak the word,
And perfect me in love.