I HAVE a Friend whose faith ful love
Is more than all the world to me,
‘Tis higher than the heights above,
And deeper than the soundless sea:
So old, so new,
So strong, so true;
Before the earth received its frame,
HE LOVED ME. Blessed be His name!
He held the highest place above,
Adored by all of heavenly fame,
Yet, such His self-denying love,
He laid aside His crown, and came
To seek the lost,
And, at the cost
Of heavenly rank and earthly fame,
HE SOUGHT ME. Blessed be His name!
It was a lonely path He trod,
From every human soul apart,
Known only to Himself and God
Was all the grief that filled His heart;
Yet from the track
He turned not back
Till, where I lay in want and shame,
HE FOUND ME. Blessed be His name!
Then dawned at last that day of dread
When, desolate yet undismayed,
With wearied frame and thorn-crowned head
He, now forsaken and betrayed,
Went up for me
To Calvary,
And dying there in grief and shame,
HE SAVED ME. Blessed be His name!
Long as I live, my song shall tell
The wonders of His matchless love;
And, when at last I rise to dwell
In the bright home prepared above,
My joy shall be
His face to see,
And, bowing then with loud acclaim,
I’ll praise Him. BLESSED BE HIS NAME!
ML 10/27/1912