Lord Jesus, Make Thyself to Me
Anonymous*

Lord Jesus, make Thyself to me
A living, bright reality,
More present to Faith’s vision keen
Than any outward object seen,
More near, more intimately nigh,
Than e’en the sweetest earthly tie.

And Thou, blest vision of my soul,
Hast made my broken nature whole,
Hast purified my base desires,
And kindled passion’s holiest fires!
My nature Thou hast lifted up
And filled me with a glorious hope.

Nearer and nearer still to me
Thou living, loving Saviour be.
Brighter the vision of Thy face,
More glorious still Thy words of grace;
Till life shall be transformed to love,
A heaven below, a heaven above.

* Because I have not yet been able to determine conclusively the author of this song, I have left it “anonymous” for the time being. In my sources it has been variously ascribed to A. B. Simpson of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, Frances Ridley Havergal, and even missionary giant Hudson Taylor (though most sources agree only that Hudson Taylor read this devotionally). Not a few preachers and writers of Thomas Cook’s era quote these lines, but none that I have encountered so far makes any reference to the author. If any readers can help us give proper credit to the author, please write us at jim@finestofthewheat.org.

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