1. Father, whate'er of earthly bliss Thy sov'reign will denies, Accepted at Thy throne of grace, Let this petition rise: 2. Give me a calm, a thankful heart, From ev'ry murmur free; The blessings of Thy grace impart, And let me live to Thee. 3. Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine My life and death attend, Thy presence though my journey shine, And crown my journey's end.
Lyrics: Anne Steele
Music: Hans Georg Naegeli; arranged by Lowell
Mason
Tune: NAOMI
Meter: C.M.
Anne Steele (1716–1778)
Anne Steele was one of the most gifted women hymnists of the eighteenth century. However, her personal life was filled with tragedy. Her mother died when she was only three years old; she became an invalid at the age of nineteen due to a hip injury; and her fiancée drowned the day before their wedding. Out of her suffering, Anne began writing poetry. In 1760, her collected poems were submitted for publication in a work entitled, Poems on Subjects Chiefly Devotional. The three verses in this song are from a ten stanza poem in this collection entitled “Desiring Resignation and Thankfulness.”