I Want a Principle Within

I want a prin­ci­ple with­in of watch­ful

god­ly fear

A sen­si­bi­li­ty of sin

a pain to feel it near.

I want the first ap­proach to feel of pride or wrong de­sire

To catch the wan­der­ing of my will

and quench the kind­ling fire.

From Thee that I no more may stray

no more Thy good­ness grieve

Grant me the fi­li­al awe

I pray

the ten­der con­science give.

Quick as the ap­ple of an eye

O God

my con­science make;

Awake my soul when sin is nigh

and keep it still awake.

Almighty God of truth and love

to me Thy pow­er im­part;

The mount­ain from my soul re­move

the hard­ness from my heart.

O may the least omis­sion pain my re­awak­ened soul

And drive me to that blood again

which makes the wound­ed whole.