Thee will I love, my strength, my tower;

Thee will I love, my joy, my crown;

Thee will I love with all my power,

In all my works, and Thee alone!

Thee will I love, till the pure fire

Fill my whole soul with chaste desire.

Ah why did I so late Thee know,

Thee, lovelier than the sons of men!

Ah why did I no sooner go

To Thee, the only ease in pain!

Ashamed I sigh, and inly mourn

That I so late to Thee did turn.

In darkness willingly I stray’d;

I sought Thee, yet from Thee I roved:

For wide my wandering thoughts were spread,

Thy creatures more than Thee I loved.

And now, if more at length I see,

’Tis through Thy light, and comes from Thee.

I thank Thee, Uncreated Sun,

That Thy bright beams on me have shined;

I thank Thee, who hast overthrown

My foes, and heal’d my wounded mind;

I thank Thee, whose enlivening voice

Bids my freed heart in Thee rejoice.

Uphold me in the doubtful race,

Nor suffer me again to stray;

Strengthen my feet, with steady pace

Still to press forward in Thy way;

My soul and flesh, O Lord of Might,

Fill, satiate with Thy heavenly light.

Give to my eyes refreshing tears;

Give to my heart chaste, hallow’d fires;

Give to my soul, with filial fears,

The love that all heaven’s host inspires:

“That all my powers with all their might

In Thy sole glory may unite.”⁶⁴⁶⁴This couplet is copied from Bishop Ken’s Morning Hymn, v. 9.

Thee will I love, my joy, my crown

Thee will I love, my Lord, my God!

Thee will I love, beneath Thy frown

Or smile, Thy sceptre or Thy rod.

What though my flesh and heart decay?

Thee shall I love in endless day!