My beloved is mine: and I am his. ~ Cant. 2:16.
I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine. ~ Cant. 5:8.
Long did I toil, and knew no earthly rest;
Far did I rove, and found no certain home:
At last I sought them in His sheltering breast,
Who opes His arms and bids the weary come.
With Him I found a home, a rest divine;
And I since then am His, and He is mine.
Yes, He is mine! and naught of earthly things -
Not all the charms of pleasure, wealth, or power,
The fame of heroes, or the pomp of kings—?
Could tempt me to forego His love an hour.
Go, worthless world, I cry, with all that's thine!
Go! I my Savior's am, and He is mine.
The good I have is from His store supplied;
The ill is only what He deems the best:
He for my Friend, I'm rich with naught beside;
And poor without Him, though of all possessed.
Changes may come—I take or I resign -
Content to know I'm His, and He is mine.
Whate'er may change, in Him no change is seen!
A glorious Sun that wanes not nor declines;
Above the clouds and storms He walks serene,
And sweetly on His people's darkness shines.
All may depart—I fret not nor repine,
I know that I am His, that He is mine.
He stays me falling; lifts me up when down;
Reclaims me wandering; guards from every foe
Plants on my worthless brow the victor's crown,
Which, in return, before His feet I throw:
Grieved that I cannot better grace His shrine,
Who deigns to own me His, as He is mine.
While here, alas! I know but half His love,
But half discern Him, and but half adore;
But when I meet Him in the realms above,
I then shall love Him better, praise Him more ?
And feel, and tell, amid the choir divine,
How fully I am His, and He is mine!
