JOY
O Christ,
All thy ways of mercy tend to and end in
my delight.
Thou didst weep,
sorrow, suffer that I might rejoice.
For my joy thou hast
sent the Comforter,
multiplied thy promises,
shown me my future happiness,
given me a living fountain.
Thou art preparing
joy for me and me for joy;
I pray for joy, wait
for joy, long for joy;
give me more than I can hold,
desire, or think of.
Measure out to me my
times and degrees of joy,
at my work, business, duties.
If I weep at night,
give me joy in the morning.
Let me rest in the
thought of thy love,
pardon for sin, my title to
heaven,
my future unspotted state.
I am an unworthy
recipient of thy grace.
I often disesteem
thy blood and slight thy love,
but can in repentance draw water
from the wells of thy joyous
forgiveness.
Let my heart leap
towards the eternal sabbath,
where the work of redemption,
sanctification,
preservation,
glorification is finished
and perfected for
ever,
where thou wilt rejoice over me
with joy.
There is no joy like
the joy of heaven,
for in that state are no sad
divisions,
unchristian quarrels,
contentions, evil designs,
weariness, hunger, cold,
sadness, sin, suffering,
persecutions, toils of duty.
O healthful place
where none are sick!
O happy land where
all are kings!
O holy assembly
where all are priests!
How free a state
where none are servants
except to thee!
Bring me speedily to
the land of joy.