OLIVES THAT HAVE KNOWN NO PRESSURE
1. Olives that have
known no pressure
Never can oil
bestow;
If the grapes
escape the winepress,
Cheering wine can
never flow;
Spikenard only
thro' the crushing,
Its fragrance can
diffuse.
Shall I then,
shrink from the suff'ring
That Thy love would
so induce?
Refrain
Each blow I suffer
Is true gain to me.
In the place of
what Thou takest
Thou dost give
Thy-self to me.
2. Do my
heart-strings need Thy stretching,
Music divine to
prove?
Must the sweetest
music come from
The harsh treatment
of Thy love?
Lord, I fear no
deprivation
If I be drawn to
Thee;
I would yield in
full surrender
All Thy heart of
love to see.
3. I'm ashamed, my
Lord, for seeking
Myself to guard
alway;
Though Thy love had
done its stripping,
Yet I felt
compelled Thy way.
Lord, according to
Thy pleasure
Complete Thy work
in me;
Heeding not my
human feelings,
Only do what
pleases Thee.
4 If Thy mind and
mine should differ,
Pursue, O Lord, Thy
way;
If Thy pleasure
means my sorrow,
Still my heart
shall answer, "Yea!"
'Tis my deep desire
to please Thee,
Though I might
suffer loss;
E'en though Thy
delight and glory
Mean that I endure
the cross.
5. Oh, I'll praise
Thee, e'en if weeping
Be mingled with my
song.
Thine increasing
sweetness calls forth
Grateful praises
all day long.
Thou hast made
Thyself more precious
Than everything to
me:
Thou increase and I
decrease, Lord-
This is now my only
plea.
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