“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!