1  Thy mighty love, O God, constraineth me,

    As some strong tide it presseth on its way,

    Seeking a channel in my self-bound soul,

    Yearning to sweep all barriers away.

 2  Shall I not yield to that constraining power?

    Shall I not say, O tide of love, flow in?

    My God, Thy gentleness hath conquered me,

    Life cannot be as it hath hither been.

 3  Break through my nature, mighty, heavenly love,

    Clear every avenue of thought and brain,

    Flood my affections, purify my will,

    Let nothing but Thine own pure life remain.

 4  Thus wholly mastered and possessed by God,

    Forth from my life, spontaneous and free,

    Shall flow a stream of tenderness and grace.

    Loving, because God loved, eternally.