The text of the hymn "Live Out Thy Life Within Me" by Frances Havergal caught my attention this week (especially verse 3!). Frances was a PK, living in 19th century England. She was quite a linguist, a prolific writer. She said of her hymns,
"Writing is praying with me, for I never seem to write even a verse by myself, and I feel like a little child writing. You know a child would look up after every sentence and say, 'And what shall I say next?' This is just what I do."
Samuel Wesley, also of England and a grandson of the great hymn-poet Charles Wesley, wrote the hymn tune most commonly associated with this hymn. He was the son of a musician, and became a noted organist (no pun intended :-o) and church musician in the mid 19th century. He was famous for his organ improvisation, and for a determination to improve the standards of church music and the status and salary of musicians (hear, here!).
Here is the hymn (tune coming later!):
Live out Thy life within me, O Jesus, King of kings!
Be Thou Thyself the answer to all my questionings;
Live out Thy life within me, in all things have Thy way!
I, the transparent medium Thy glory to display.
The temple has been yielded, and purified of sin;
Let Thy Shekinah glory now shine forth from within,
And all the earth keep silence, the body henceforth be
Thy silent, gentle servant, moved only as by Thee.
Its members every moment held subjct to Thy call,
Ready to have Thee use them, or not be used at all;
Held without restless longing, or strain, or stress, or fret,
Or chafings at Thy dealings, or thoughts of vain regret.
But restful, calm, and pliant, from bend and bias free,
Awaiting Thy decision, when Thou hast need of me.
Live out Thy life within me, O Jesus, King of kings!
Be Though the glorious answer to all my questionings.
Source: Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal and Companion to the Hymnal, #316.
