Desiring the gracious presence of God

Representative Text

Alas! my heart where is thy absent God,
Arise and search, nor languish hopeless here,
See o'er creation's frame diffus'd abroad,
His power, his wisdom and his love appear!

But chiefly of his sacred word enquire,
There faith and hope diviner glories trace,
Seek with the ardor of sincere desire,
For nature's father is the God of grace.

His sacred word invites me to his feet,
Reveals forgiveness rich and full and free,
The voice of mercy, how divinely sweet!
O be the heavenly accents spoke to me!

God of my life, thy radiant face reveal!
For thou art near though clouds obstruct my sighs
Thy voice divine can every cloud dispel,
O speak and give me comfort, give me light!

Thy word permits, commands to seek thy face,
Nor shall the humble mourner seek in vain:
Thou wilt reward the search, thy word of grace
Inviolate for ever must remain.

Thy word of grace—rich treasure of delight!
(O let my soul recall her comforts past)
Not morn's fair dawn is dearer to the sight!
Nor honey sweeter to the longing taste.

And shall those heavenly sweets no more be mine?
Return ye, blissful moments to my heart!
Dispel the cloud, O God of mercy, shine,
And life and peace and happiness impart!

Source: Miscellaneous Pieces in Verse and Prose #63

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Author: Anne Steele

Anne Steele was the daughter of Particular Baptist preacher and timber merchant William Steele. She spent her entire life in Broughton, Hampshire, near the southern coast of England, and devoted much of her time to writing. Some accounts of her life portray her as a lonely, melancholy invalid, but a revival of research in the last decade indicates that she had been more active and social than what was previously thought. She was theologically conversant with Dissenting ministers and "found herself at the centre of a literary circle that included family members from various generations, as well as local literati." She chose a life of singleness to focus on her craft. Before Christmas in 1742, she declined a marriage proposal from contemporar… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Alas! my heart where is thy absent God
Title:	Desiring the gracious presence of God
Author:	Anne Steele (1780)
Language:	English
Publication Date:	1780
Copyright:	This text is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before 1929.