1 From the recesses of a lowly spirit
My humble prayer ascends: O, Father, hear it!
Borne on the trembling wings of fear and meekness,
Forgive its weakness.
2 I know, I feel, how mean and unworthy
The lowly sacrifice I pour before thee:
What can I offer thee, O thou most holy,
But sin and folly?
3 Lord, in thy sight, who every bosom viewest,
Cold in our warmest vows and vain our truest
Thoughts of a hurrying hour,--our lips repeat them,
Our hearts forget them.
4 We see thy hand: it leads us, it support us,
We hear thy voice: it counsels, and it courts us:
And thee we turn away! and still thy kindness
Forgives our blindness.
5 Who can resist thy gentle call, appealing
To every generous thought and grateful feeling?
Oh, who can hear the accents. .of thy mercy,
And never love thee?
6 Kind benefactor! plant within this bosom
The seeds of holiness, and let them blossom
In fragrance and in beauty bright and vernal,
And spring eternal.
Source: The New Sabbath School Hosanna: enlarged and improved: a choice collection of popular hymns and tunes, original and selected: for the Sunday school and the family circle... #144b
James Bowring was born at Exeter, in 1792. He possessed at an early age a remarkable power of attaining languages, and acquired some reputation by his metrical translations of foreign poems. He became editor of "The Westminster Review" in 1825, and was elected to Parliament in 1835. In 1849, he was appointed Consul at Canton, and in 1854, was made Governor of Hong Kong, and received the honour of knighthood. He is the author of some important works on politics and travel, and is the recipient of several testimonials from foreign governments and societies. His poems and hymns have also added to his reputation. His "Matins and Vespers" have passed through many editions. In religion he is a Unitarian.
--Annotations of the Hymnal, Charl… Go to person page >
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