"Master, speak!
Thy servant heareth,
Longing for Thy gracious word,
Longing for Thy voice that cheereth;
Master, let it now be heard,
I am listening, Lord, for Thee;
What hast thou to say to me?
"Often through my heart is pealing
Many another voice than Thine,
Many an unwilled echo stealing
From the walls of this Thy shrine.
Let thy longed-for accents fall;
Master, speak! and silence all.
"Master, speak!
I cannot doubt Thee,
Thou wilt through life's pathway lead;
Saviour, Shepherd, oh, without Thee
Life would be a blank indeed.
Yet I seek still fuller light,
Deeper love, and clearer sight,
"Resting on the 'faithful saying,'
Trusting what Thy gospel saith,
On Thy written promise staying
All my hope in life and death;—
Yet I ask for more and more
From Thy love's exhaustless store.
"Master, speak! and make me ready,
As thy voice is daily heard,
With obedience glad and steady
Still to follow every word.
I am listening, Lord, for Thee:
Master, speak, speak on, to me!"—Sel.