Lord, With Glowing Heart I’d Praise Thee

By Francis Scott Key (1817)

Lord with glowing heart I’d praise Thee,

For the bliss Thy love bestows,

For the pardoning grace that saves me,

And the peace that from it flows:

Help, O God, my weak endeavor;

This dull soul to rapture raise:

Thou must light the flame, or never

Can my love be warmed to praise.

Praise, my soul, the God that sought me,

Wretched wanderer, far astray;

Found me lost, and kindly brought me

From the paths of death away;

Praise, with love’s devoutest feeling,

Him Who saw my guilt-born fear,

And the light of hope revealing,

Bade the blood-stained cross appear.

Praise my Savior God that drew me

To that cross, new life to give,

Held a blood sealed pardon to me,

Bade me look to Him and live.

Praise the grace whose threats alarmed me,

Roused me from my fatal ease;

Praise the grace whose promise warmed me,

Praise the grace that whispered peace.

Lord, this bosom’s ardent feeling

Vainly would my lips express.

Low before Thy footstool kneeling,

Deign Thy suppliant’s prayer to bless:

Let Thy grace, my soul’s chief treasure,

Love’s pure flame within me raise;

And, since words can never measure,

Let my life show forth Thy praise.