The Pilgrim's Wants

The Pilgrim's Wants

I want a sweet sense of Thy pardoning love,

That my manifold sins are forgiven;

That Christ, as my advocate, pleadeth above,

That my name is recorded in heaven.

I want every moment to feel

That Thy spirit resides in my heart-

That His power is present to cleanse and to heal,

And newness of life to impart.

I want-Oh! I want to attain

Some likeness my Savior to Thee!

That longed-for resemblance once more to regain,

Thy comeliness put upon me.

I want to be marked for Thine own-

Thy seal on my forehead to wear;

To receive that new name on the mystic white stone

Which none but Thyself can declare.

I want so in Thee to abide

As to bring forth some fruit to Thy praise;

The branch which Thou prunest, though feeble and dried,

May languish but never decays.

I want Thine own hand to unbind

Each tie to terrestrial things,

Too tenderly cherished, too closely entwined,

Where my heart so tenaciously clings.

I want, by my aspect serene,

My actions and words to declare

That my treasure is placed in a country unseen,

That my heart's best affections are there. 

I want as a trav'ller to haste,

Straight onward, nor pause on my way;

Nor fore thought in anxious contrivance to watse

On the tent only pitched for a day.

I want-and this sums up my prayer-

To glorify Thee till I die;

Then calmly to yield up my soul to Thy care,

And breathe out in faith my last sigh.

-Author Unknown