You Have Called Me

O Lord, you have called me to open my hand,
that you might fill it:
but I would not open it;
I held the world fast,
and kept my hand shut,
and would not let it go.
But you alone can open it for me;
not my hand only, but my mouth;
not my mouth, but my heart also.
Grant that I may know nothing but you,
account all things a loss compared with you,
and endeavor to be transformed
to be like you.

Source: From Jeremy Taylor, 1613-1667

Source of this version: Modified from http://anglicanhistory.org/taylor/worthy/7.2.html

Original in traditional English:

Thou hast called unto me to open my hand, and thou wouldest fill it: but I would not open it; I held the world fast, and kept my hand shut, and would not let it go. But do thou open it for me; not my hand only, but my mouth; not my mouth, but my heart also.

Grant that I may know nothing but thee, account all things loss in comparison of thee, and endeavour to be made conformable to thee, …

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pastorstratman

Lutheran pastor and musician serving St. Stephen's in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

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