THE BELIEVER’S PRIVILEGE

J. N. Darby *

To walk with God! O fellowship divine!

Man’s highest state on earth—Lord be it mine!

With Thee may I a close communion hold,

To Thee the deep recesses of my heart unfold—

Yes, tell Thee all, each weary care and grief

Into Thy bosom pour, till there I find relief,

Oh let me walk with Thee, Thou mighty One,

Lean on Thine arm and trust Thy love alone.

With Thee hold converse sweet where’er I go,

Thy smile of love my highest bliss below,

With Thee transact life’s business, doing all

With single aim for Thee as Thou dost call,

My every comfort at Thy hand receive.

My every talent to Thy glory give.

Thy counsel seek in every trying hour,

In all my weakness trust Thy mighty power.

Oh may this high companionship be mine

And all my life by its reflection shine!

My great, my wise, my never-failing Friend!

Whose life no change can know, no turn, no end.

My Saviour-God who gav’st Thy life for me,

Let nothing come between my heart and Thee!

From Thee no thought, no secret would I keep

But on Thy breast my tears of anguish weep.

My every wound I take to Thee to heal

For Thou art touched by every pang I feel,

In Thee and Thee alone I now confide,

And Thee I’d follow as my Lord and Guide.

Earth’s broken cisterns ah! they all have proved

Unsatisfying, vain, however loved!

The false must fail, the fondest they must go!

Oh thus it is with all we love below!

From things of earth then let my heart be free

And find its happiness, my Lord, in Thee,

The Holy Spirit for my Guide and Guest,

Whate’er my lot, I must be safe and blest.

Washed in Thy blood, from all my guilt made clean,

I in Thy righteousness alone am seen;

Thy home, my home, Thy God and Father mine,

Dead to the world, my life is hid in Thine;

Its highest honours fade before my view,

Its pleasures—I can trample on them too.

With Thee by faith I walk in crowds alone,

Making to Thee my wants and wishes known,

Drawing from Thee my daily strength in prayer,

Finding Thine arm sustains me everywhere,

While through the clouds of sin and woe the light

Of coming glory shines more sweetly bright,

And This my daily boast, my aim, my end,

That my Redeemer is my God, my Friend.

This poem, attributed to Mr. Darby, was found recently among second-hand books in a Malvern shop. Its character and quality would indicate that he was, in fact, the author. It seems that in copying

the verses a line has been omitted near the end—Ed. (see No. 91 June p.22)