O Friend Divine, With Thee Apart

Above:  The Communion of the Apostles

Image in the Public Domain

Text (Published in 1900) by George Thomas Coster (1835-1912)

Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1904)

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O Friend divine, with thee apart

Communing we have rest;

A blissful stillness rules the heart

That thus is blest.

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Thou call’st us from the strain of care

And from the battle strife,

To win in quietude of prayer

Abundant life.

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Thy call to fellowship how sweet!

With thee the silent mind

In thy great light itself can greet,

Its fulness find.

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Wise patience is thy gift,–and strength

For thee to toil, then wait

For harvest days that come at length,

And ne’er too late.

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With thee the boundlessness we learn

Of good for us in store,

That, much received, we yet may turn

To thee for more.

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With thee communing grow we brave

Our heart with joy is rife:

No fear! and see we e’en the grave

As Gate of Life.

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