On Thee, O God of Purity

On Thee

O God of pur­ity!

We wait for hal­low­ing grace:

None

with­out ho­li­ness

shall see

The glo­ries of Thy face.

In souls

un­ho­ly and un­clean

Thou nev­er canst de­light;

We can­not

if en­slaved by sin

Appear be­fore Thy sight.

Behold us

Lord! with hum­ble fear

Approach Thy tem­ple’s gate

Though most un­wor­thy to draw near

Or in Thy courts to wait;

But trust­ing in Thy bound­less grace

To us so free­ly giv­en

We wor­ship in the ho­ly place

And lift our souls to Heav­en.

Lead us in all Thy right­eous ways;

Nor let our foot­steps slide;

Make straight Thy path be­fore our face

And be our guard and guide.

No more to sin

Lord! let us yield

Defended from above

And kept and co­vered with the shield

Of Thine al­migh­ty love.