amazing grace

O thou Giving God,

My heart is drawn out in thankfulness to thee,

for thy amazing grace and condescension to me

in influences and assistances of thy Spirit,

for special help in prayer,

for sweetness of Christian service,

for the thoughts of arriving in heaven,

for always sending me needful supplies,

for raising me to new life when I am like one dead.

I want not the favour of man to lean upon

for they favour is infinitely better.

Thou art eternal wisdom in dispensations towards me;

and it matters not when, nor where,

nor how I serve thee,

nor what trials I am exercised with,

if I might but be prepared for they work and will.

No poor creature stands in need of divine grace

more than I do,

And yet none abuses it more than I have done,

and still do.

How heartless and dull am I!

Humble me in the dust for not loving thee more.

Every time I exercise any grace renewedly

I am renewedly indebted to thee,

the God of all grace,

for special assistance.

I cannot boast when I think how dependent

I am upon thee for the being and every act of grace;

I never do anything else but depart from thee,

and if I ever get to heaven

it will be because thou willest it,

and for no reason beside.

I love, as a feeble, afflicted, despised creature,

to cast myself on they infinite grace and goodness,

hoping for no happiness but from thee;

Give me special grace to fit me

for special services,

and keep me calm and resigned at all times,

humble, solemn, mortified,

and conformed to thy will.

((valley of vision; emphasis mine))