Make Me A Captive, Lord
SATB and keyboard (piano or organ). Dramatic and lyrical. Text by George Matheson.
Make me a captive, Lord,and then I shall be free. Force me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be. I sink in life's alarms when by myself I stand; imprison me within thine arms, and strong shall be my hand. My heart is weak and poor until it master find; it has no spring of action sure, it varies with the wind. It cannot freely move till thou hast wrought its chain; enslave it with thy matchless love, and deathless it shall reign. My will is not my own till thou hast made it thine; if it would reach a monarch's throne, it must its crown resign. It only stands unbent amid the clashing strife, when on thy bosom it has leant, and found in thee its life.