Longing For Still Closer Communion

Thou Shepherd of Israel, and mine,

The Joy, and Desire of my Heart;

For closer communion I pine,

I long to reside where Thou art:

The Pasture I languish to find,

Where all, who their Shepherd obey,

Are fed, on thy Boson reclin'd,

Are screen'd from the Heat of the Day.

Ah! shew me that happiest Place,

That Place of thy People's Abode;

Where Saints in an Extacy gaze,

And hang on a crucify'd God:

Thy Love for a Sinner declare,

Thy Passion and Death on the Tree;

My Spirit to Calvary bear,

To suffer, and Triumph with Thee.

'Tis there with the Lambs of thy Flock,

There only I covet to rest:

To lie at the Foot of the Rock,

Or rise to be hid in thy Breast;

'Tis there I wou'd always abide,

And never a Moment depart,

Conceal'd in the Cleft of thy Side,

Eternally held in thine Heart.