O Living Bread from Heaven,

How richly hast Thou fed Thy guest!

The gifts Thou now hast given

Have fill'd my heart with joy and rest.

O wondrous food of blessing,

O cup that heals our woes,

My heart this gift possessing

In thankful song o'erflows;

For while the life and strength in me

Were quicken'd by this food,

My soul hath gazed awhile on Thee,

O highest, only Good!

My Lord, Thou here hast led me

Within Thy temple's holiest place,

And there Thyself hast fed me

With all the treasures of Thy grace;

And Thou hast freely given

What earth could never buy,

The bread of life from heaven,

That now I shall not die;

And Thou hast suffer'd me in faith

To drink the blessed wine

That heals the soul from inner death,

And makes her wholly Thine.

Thou givest all I wanted,

The food whose power can death destroy,

And Thou hast freely granted

The cup of full eternal joy;

Ah Lord, I do not merit

The favour Thou hast shown,

And all my soul and spirit

Bow down before Thy throne;

Since Thou hast suffer'd me to eat

The food of angels here,

Nor Sin, nor foes that I can meet,

Nor Death I now may fear.

O Love incomprehended!

That wrought in Thee, my Saviour, thus

That Thou shouldst have descended

From highest heaven to dwell with us!

Creator, that hath brought Thee

To succour such as I,

Who else had vainly sought Thee!

Then grant me now to die

To sin, and live alone to Thee,

That when this time is o'er,

Thy face, O Saviour, I may see

In heaven for evermore.

For as a shadow passes

I pass, but Thou dost still endure;

I wither like the grasses,

But Thou art rich, though I am poor;

Oh boundless is Thy kindness,

And righteous is Thy power;

And I in sinful blindness

Am erring hour by hour,

And yet Thou comest, dost not spurn

A sinner, Lord, like me!

Ah how can I Thy love return,

What gift have I for Thee?

A heart that hath repented,

And mourns for sin with bitter sighs,--

Thou, Lord, art well-contented

With this my only sacrifice.

I know that in my weakness

Thou wilt despise me not,

But grant me in Thy meekness

The favour I have sought;

Yes, Thou wilt deign in grace to heed

The song that now I raise,

For meet and right is it indeed

That I should sing Thy praise.

Grant what I have partaken

May through Thy grace so work in me,

That sin be all forsaken,

And I may cleave alone to Thee,

And all my soul be heedful

How she Thy love may know,

For this alone is needful,

Thy love should in me glow;

And let no beauty please mine eyes,

No joy allure my heart,

But what in Thee, my Saviour, lies,

What Thou dost here impart.

O well for me that strengthen'd

With heavenly bread and wine, if here

My course on earth be lengthen'd,

I now may serve Thee free from fear;

Away then earthly pleasure,

All earthly gifts are vain,

I seek a heavenly treasure,

My home I long to gain,

Where I shall live and praise my God,

And none my peace destroy,

Where all the soul is overflow'd

With pure eternal joy.