Classic Poem

Mine arms embrace my God, yet I
Had never arms to reach so high;
His alone me holds yet lo!
I hold and will not let him go.

I do according to his call;
And yet not I, but he does all:
But though he works to will and do,
I without force work freely too.

His will and mine agree full well,
Yet disagree like heaven and hell.
His nature's mine, and mine is his;
Yet so was never that nor this.

I know him and his name yet own
He and his name can ne'er be known.
His gracious coming makes me do:
I know he comes, yet know not how.

I have no good but what he gave,
Yet he commands the good I have.
And though my good to him ascends,
My goodness to him ne'er extends.

I take hold of his cov'nant free;
But find it must take hold of me.
I'm bound to keep it, yet 'tis bail,
And bound to keep me without fail.

The bond on my part cannot last,
Yet on both sides stands firm and fast.
I break my hands at every shock,
Yet never is the bargain broke.

Daily, alas! I disobey,
Yet yield obedience ev'ry day.
I'm an imperfect, perfect man,
That can do all, yet nothing can.

I'm from beneath, and from above,
A child of wrath, a child of love.
A stranger e'en where all me know;
A pilgrim, yet I no-where go.

I trade abroad, yet stay at home:
My tabernacle is my tomb.
I can be prisoned, yet abroad;
Bound hand and foot, yet walk with God.