Hymn: Closer to Me (Elizabeth Prentiss)

I was happy to stumble across this hymn by Elizabeth Prentiss today. I had never even heard of it before. I find it quite unique in that we are singing to one another an invitation from Christ to draw near to Him. So often our songs reflect our desire for Him to draw near to us (Prentiss herself wrote, "More Love to Thee"), but in this hymn, it is Christ speaking to us to draw near to Him. Press closer! 

Lovely words to meditate on at the end of lovely Lord's Day.

CLOSER  TO  ME

Press  close,  my  child,  to  Me; 

Closer  to  Me. 

Earth  hath  no  resting-place 

Ready  for  thee; 

Straight  to  my  bosom  flee; 

Press  close,  my  child,  to  Me, 

Closer,  closer,  closer  to  Me. 

Love,  pleasure,  riches,  fame, 

All  may  be  thine, 

And  thy  immortal  soul 

Still  will  repine; 

I  must  be  all  to  thee: 

Press  close,  my  child,  to  Me, 

Closer,  closer,  closer  to  Me. 

Life  may  for  thee  contend, 

Hard  toil  and  care 

Strive  to  divide  from  Me, 

Crowd  everywhere; 

Let  them  my  servants  be; 

Press  thou,  my  child,  to  Me, 

Closer,  closer,  closer  to  Me. 

Grief  of  thy  heart  may  make 

A  desert  drear. 

Yet  there  my  sufferers  learn 

My  voice  to  hear; 

Calling,  with  earnest  plea, 

Press  close,  my  child,  to  Me , 

Closer,  closer,  closer  to  Me. 

Come,  then,  my  child,  to  Me, 

Make  thyself  mine; 

I  give  Myself  to  thee, 

I  will  be  thine; 

Joy,  grief,  and  care  shall  be 

Ties  binding  thee  to  Me, 

Closer,  closer,  closer  to  Me.