Lord, come in thy appointed ways

Representative Text

1 Lord, come in thy appointed ways,
And teach me now to sing thy praise,
For thou art dear to me;
And all the openings of thy love,
In coming from thy courts above,
Prove I was dear to thee.

2 [Dear in primeval glory, when
Neither were angels made nor men,
Nor aught exist but God.
E’en then thy heart was fixed on me;
And now, through grace, I fix on thee,
By faith in Jesus’ blood.]

3 In this I make my greatest boast,
Though once to human reason lost,
That I am saved by grace;
With this bright hope I walk below –
That I thy purest love shall know,
And see thee face to face.

4 [Dear Lord, more drops of honey send,
From Christ, thy Son, the sinner’s Friend,
And larger make my share;
More grapes from Eshcol may I bring,
And of the heavenly Canaan sing,
Whilst I am stationed here.

5 And thus with many foretastes blest
Of yonder everlasting rest,
Held for me in thy hand,
May I thy house below resort,
And give my friends a good report
Of Canaan’s heavenly land.

6 And in these galleries of thy grace,
Show us, dear Lord, thy smiling face,
And bring thy presence near;
Nor from these earthly courts remove,
But send more showers of heavenly love,
Upon thy garden here.]

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #216

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Author: John Stevens

Stevens, John, was born at Aldwinkle, in Northamptonshire, June 8th, 1776. About the age of sixteen he went to London, where he joined the Baptist church in Grafton Street, whose pastor was at that time R. Burnham. He began to preach, and in 1797 became minister at Oundle, soon afterwards at St. Neots, and then at Boston. In 1811, after the death of Burnham, he was invited to succeed him at Grafton Street. Stevens had popular gifts as a preacher: the place became too small, and ultimately a new chapel was built in Meard's Court, Soho, where he continued to minister until he died Oct. 6, 1847. Stevens was a High Calvinist in theology, and an ardent polemic. He wrote several controversial works, the most famous of which was entitled, A Sc… Go to person page >

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