Mary Shekelford
(1827-1883)
17…that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. — Ephesians 3:17-19 KJV
It passeth knowledge, that dear love of Thine,
My Jesus, Saviour; yet this soul of mine
Would of Thy love, in all its depth and length,
Its height and breadth, and everlasting strength,
Know more and more.
It passeth telling! that dear love of Thine,
My Jesus, Savior; yet these lips of mine
Would fain proclaim to sinners far and near
A love which can remove all guilty fear,
And love beget.
It passeth praises, that dear love of Thine,
My Jesus, Savior; yet this heart of mine
Would sing a love so rich, so full, so free,
Which brings a rebel sinner, such as me,
Nigh unto God.
But though I cannot tell, or sing, or know
The fullness of Thy love while here below,
My empty vessel I may freely bring:
O Thou, Who art of love the Living Spring,
My vessel fill!
I am an empty vessel—not one thought,
Or look of love to Thee I ever to Thee brought;
Yet I may come, and come again to Thee,
With this the empty sinner’s only plea—
“Thou lovest me!”
Oh, fill me Jesus, Savior with Thy love!
Lead, lead me to the Living Fount above!
Thither may I in simple faith draw nigh
And never to another fountain fly,
But unto Thee.
And when my Jesus face to face I see,
When at His lofty throne I bow the knee,
Then of His love in all its breadth and length,
Its height and depth and everlasting strength,
My soul shall sing.
