Thou only Sovereign of my heart,

Thou only Sovereign of my heart,
My Refuge, my Almighty Friend;
And can my soul from thee depart,
On whom alone my hopes depend?

Whither, ah! whither should I go,
A wretched wanderer from the Lord?
Can this dark world of sin and woe
One glimpse of happiness afford?

Eternal life thy words impart;
On these my fainting spirit lives;
Here sweeter comforts cheer my heart,
Than all the round that nature gives.

Let earth's alluring joys combine,
While thou art near, in vain they call;
One smile, one blissful smile of thine,
Thou dearest Lord, outweighs them all.

Thy name my inmost powers adore,
Thou art my life, my joy, my care;
Depart from thee? - 'tis death - 'tis more;
'Tis endless ruin, deep despair!

Low at thy feet my soul would lie;
Here safety dwells and peace divine;
Still let me live beneath thy eye,
For life, eternal life, is thine.