O Thou, Who All Things Canst Control

-Spiritual Slumber-

From the German

O Thou, who all things canst control,

Chase this dead Slumber from my soul;

With joy and fear, with love and awe,

Give me to keep Thy perfect law.

O, may one beam of Thy blest light

Pierce trough, dispel the shades of night:

Touch my cold breast with heavenly fire.

With holy , conquering zeal inspire.

For zeal I sigh, for zeal I pant;

Yet heavy is my soul and faint:

With steps unwavering, undismay’d,

Give me in all Thy paths to read.

With outstretch’d hands, and streaming eyes,

Oft I begin to grasp the prize;

I groan, I strive, I watch, I pray:

But ah! how soon it dies away!

The deadly Slumber soon I feel

Afresh upon my spirit steal:

Rise, Lord; stir up Thy quick’ning power,

And wake me that I sleep no more.

Single of heart, O! may I be,

Nothing may I desire but Thee:

Far, far from me the world remove,

And all that holds me from Thy love.