O Jesus, Make Thyself to Me
Charlotte Elliott
(1789-1871)

O 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.

 

(Special thanks to reader B. N.
for providing the final erg of motivation needed
to uncover the mystery of this hymn’s authorship.)

 

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