quote · Legacy record
To tell you truly what I wish to be, And never would be other, if I could, But in the comfort of the heaven’s decree In soul and body that I ever should— Though in the world, not to the world to live, But to my God my service wholly give. This would I be, and would none other be, But a religious servant of my God; And know there is none other God but He, And willingly to suffer mercy’s rod; Joy in His grace, and live but in His love, And seek my bliss but in the heaven above. Thus would I spend in service of my God The ling’ring hours of these few days of mine, To show how sin and death are overtrod But by the virtue of the power divine; Our thoughts but vain, our substance slime and dust, And only Christ for our eternal trust.
To tell you truly what I wish to be, And never would be other, if I could, But in the comfort of the heaven’s decree In soul and body that I ever should— Though in the world, not to the world to live, But to my God my service wholly give. This would I be, and would none other be, But a religious servant of my God; And know there is none other God but He, And willingly to suffer mercy’s rod; Joy in His grace, and live but in His love, And seek my bliss but in the heaven above. Thus would I spend in service of my God The ling’ring hours of these few days of mine, To show how sin and death are overtrod But by the virtue of the power divine; Our thoughts but vain, our substance slime and dust, And only Christ for our eternal trust.
In print by 1888 AD · industrial
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Meaning not yet available
An individual explanation has not yet been added. We do not substitute a generic description for an interpretation of these particular words.
Begin with source-checked readings and explanations ↗Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Nicolas Breton (identity unresolved)
Attribution: unknown - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1888 AD · industrial
In print by 1888: recorded in A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888) (1888 AD)
Page 533 · printed citation: Nicolas Breton · subject: SERVICE
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.