Jesus, my chief pleasure, Jesus, my heart's treasure, Matchless pearl of grace! Long my heart hath panted, And hath well-nigh fainted, To behold Thy face. Lamb who died, behold Thy bride! Oh, what tie can e'er be nearer? Who than Jesus dearer? When the tempest rages, In the Rock of Ages I will safely hide; Though the earth be shaking, And all hearts be quaking, Christ is at my side. Lightnings flash, and thunders crash; Yea, though sin and hell assail me, Jesus will not fail me. Hence, deluding pleasure! Jesus is the treasure To my heart most dear. Hence, vain pomp and glories! To your flattering stories I will lend no ear. Grief and loss, shame, death, the cross, Though they may afflict, shall never Me from Jesus sever. Hence, ye empty bubbles, Self-inflicted troubles, Vanish from my sight! Sins, which once could bind me, Get ye all behind me, Come not to the light. Pomp and pride, your faces hide! Hence, ye brood of sin and folly, I renounce you wholly. Flee, ye shades of sadness! Christ, the Prince of gladness, Comes with me to sup. He may joy discover, Who is Christ's true lover, In the bitterest cup. Welcome cross, reproach, and loss, Thou art still my consolation In all tribulation. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPISTLE TO JOHN LAPRAIK, AN OLD SCOTTISH BARD by ROBERT BURNS AN ENGLISH MOTHER by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON THE RAVAGED VILLA by HERMAN MELVILLE SILENCE SINGS by THOMAS STURGE MOORE THE OWL by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS ANDRE'S LAST REQUEST [OR, REQUEST TO WASHINGTON] [OCTOBER 1, 1780] by NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS |