“Master, Say On!”

Master, speak!  Thy servant heareth,
Waiting for Thy gracious word,

Master, speak!  Thy servant heareth,
Waiting for Thy gracious word,
Longing for Thy voice that cheereth;
Master!  let it now be heard.
I am listening, Lord, for Thee;
What hast Thou to say to me?

Master, speak in love and power:
Crown the mercies of the day.
In this quiet evening hour
Of the moonrise o’er the bay,
With the music of Thy voice;
Speak!  and bid Thy child rejoice.

Often through my heart is pealing
Many another voice than Thine,
Many an unwilled echo stealing
From the walls of this Thy shrine:
Let Thy longed-for accents fall;
Master, speak!  and silence all.

Master, speak!  I do not doubt Thee,
Though so tearfully I plead;
Saviour, Shepherd!  Oh, without Thee
Life would be a blank indeed!
But I long for fuller light,
Deeper love, and clearer sight.

Resting on the “faithful saying,”
Trusting what Thy gospel saith,
On Thy written promise staying
All my hope in life and death,
Yet I long for something more
From Thy love’s exhaustless store.

Speak to me by name, O Master,
Let me know it is to me;
Speak, that I may follow faster,
With a step more firm and free,
Where the Shepherd leads the flock,
In the shadow of the Rock.

Master, speak!  I kneel before Thee,
Listening, longing, waiting still;
Oh, how long shall I implore Thee
This petition to fulfill?
Hast Thou not one word for me?
Must my prayer unanswered be?

Master, speak!  Though least and lowest,
Let me not unheard depart;
Master, speak!  for oh, Thou knowest
All the yearning of my heart,
Knowest all its truest need;
Speak!  and make me blest indeed.

Master, speak!  and make me ready,
When Thy voice is truly heard,
With obedience glad and steady
Still to follow every word.
I am listening, Lord, for Thee;
Master, speak, oh, speak to me!

Frances Havergal