Gerhard Tersteegen (1697–1769)

Translated by John Wesley

THOU hidden love of God! whose height,

Whose depth unfathomed, no man knows—

I see from far thy beauteous light,

Inly I sigh for thy repose.

My heart is pained; nor can it be

At rest till it finds rest in Thee.

Thy secret voice invites me still

The sweetness of Thy yoke to prove;

And fain I would; but though my will

Seem fixed, yet wide my passions rove;

Yet hindrances strew all the way—

I aim at Thee, yet from Thee stray.

’Tis mercy all, that Thou hast brought

My mind to seek her peace in Thee!

Yet while I seek, but find Thee not,

No peace my wandering soul shall see.

O when shall all my wanderings end,

And all my steps to Theeward tend?

Is there a thing beneath the sun

That strives with Thee my heart to share?

Ah, tear it thence, and reign alone—

The Lord of every motion there!

Then shall my heart from earth be free,

When it hath found repose in Thee.