The Hymnbook ‎#308

308. Make Me a Captive, Lord

1 Make me a captive, Lord,
And then I shall be free;
Force me to render up my sword,
And I shall conqueror be.

2 I sink in life's alarms
When by myself I stand;
Imprison me within Thine arms,
And strong shall be my hand.

3 My heart is weak and poor
Until it master find;
It has no spring of action sure—
It varies with the wind.

4 It cannot freely move
Till Thou hast wrought its chain;
Enslave it with Thy matchless love,
And deathless it shall reign.

5 My will is not my own
Till Thou hast made it Thine;
If it would reach a monarch's throne,
It must its crown resign;

6 It only stands unbent
Amid the clashing strife,
When on Thy bosom it has leant,
And found in Thee its life.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Make me a captive, Lord
• Title: Make Me a Captive, Lord
• Author: George Matheson (1890)
• Meter: S. M.
• Publication Date: 1955
• Scripture:
  John 15:5
  ;
  2 Corinthians 12:9-10
  ;
  Philippians 4:13
• Topic: Christ: Master; Christ: Presence; Commitment; God: Will, Doing His; Life in Christ: Dedication and Consecration

Tune Information

• Name: ST. BRIDE
• Composer: Samuel Howard (1762)
• Harmonizer: David Evans (1927)
• Meter: S. M.
• Key: g minor
• Copyright: Music from The Church Hymnary, Revised Edition. Used by permission of Oxford University Press.