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Make me a captive, Lord

by George Matheson

Representative text

As printed in The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal (1985), no. 568.

Verse 1

Make me a captive, Lord, And then I shall be free; Force me to render up my sword, And I shall conqueror be. I sink in life’s alarms When by myself I stand; Imprison me within Thine arms, And strong shall be my hand.

Verse 2

My heart is weak and poor Till it a master find; It has no spring of action sure— It varies with the wind. It cannot freely move Till Thou has wrought its chain; Enslave it with Thy matchless love, And deathless it shall reign.

Verse 3

My will is not my own Till Thou hast made it Thine; If it would reach a monarch’s throne It must its crown resign; It only stands unbent, Amid the clashing strife, When on Thy bosom it has leant And found in Thee its life.