Ever Would I Fain Be Reading

Ever would I fain be read­ing

In the an­cient ho­ly Book

Of my Sav­ior’s gen­tle plead­ing

Truth in ev­ery word and look.

How when child­ren came He blessed them

Suffered no man to re­prove

Took them in His arms

and pressed them

To His heart with words of love.

How to all the sick and tear­ful

Help was ev­er glad­ly shown;

How He sought the poor and fear­ful

Called them bro­thers and His own.

How no con­trite soul e’er sought Him

And was bid­den to de­part

How with gen­tle words He taught him

Took the death from out his heart.

Still I read the an­cient sto­ry

And my joy is ev­er new

How for us He left His glo­ry

How He still is kind and true.

How the flock He gent­ly lead­eth

Whom His Fa­ther gave Him here;

How His arms He wid­ely spread­eth

To His heart to draw us near.

Let me kneel

my Lord

be­fore Thee

Let my heart in tears o’er­flow

Melted by Thy love ad­ore Thee

Blest in Thee ’mid joy or woe!