Thou, God, art a consuming fire

Verse 1

Thou, God, art a consuming fire, Yet mortals may find grace, From toil and tumult to retire, And meet Thee face to face.

Verse 2

Though "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord!" Seraph to seraph sings, And angel-choirs, with one accord, Worship, with veiling wings;--

Verse 3

Though earth Thy footstool, heaven Thy throne, Thy way amidst the sea, Thy path deep floods, Thy steps unknown, Thy counsels mystery:--

Verse 4

Yet wilt Thou look on him who lies A suppliant at Thy feet; And hearken to the feeblest cries That reach Thy mercy-seat.

Verse 5

Between the cherubim of old Thy glory was express'd; But God, through Christ, we now behold In flesh made manifest.

Verse 6

Through Him who all our sickness felt, Who all our sorrows bare, Through Him in whom Thy fulness dwelt We offer up our prayer.

Verse 7

Touch'd with a feeling of our woes, Jesus, our High Priest, stands; All our infirmities He knows, Our souls are in His hands.

Verse 8

He bears them up with strength divine, When at Thy feet we fall; Lord, cause, Thy face on us to shine Hear us,--on Thee we call.