My Spirit Longs for Thee

Above:  One of My Crucifixes, July 15, 2015

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Words (published in 1773) by John Byrom (1692-1763)

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The Church Hymnary–Revised Edition (1927) contains this part of the text:

My spirit longs for Thee

Within my troubled breast,

Though I unworthy be

Of so Divine a Guest.

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Of so Divine a Guest

Unworthy though I be,

Yet has my heart no rest,

Unless it come from Thee.

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Unless it come from Thee,

In vain I look around;

In all that I can see

No rest is to be found.

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No rest is to be found

But in Thy blessed love:

O let my with be crowned,

And send it from above!

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The Handbook to the Church Hymnary–Revised Edition (1927) contains the reply, which Byrom wrote in the voice of Jesus:

Cheer up, desponding soul,

Thy longing pleased I see;

‘Tis part of that great whole,

Wherewith I longed for Thee:

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Wherewith I longed for Thee,

And left my Father’s throne;

From death to set thee free,

To claim thee for my own:

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To claim thee for my own,

I suffered on the Cross:

Oh were my love but known ,

No soul could fear its loss:

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No soul could fear its loss,

But filled with love divine,

Would die on its own cross,

And rise for ever mine.

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