Nearer my God to thee!

362 Bethany. 6. 4. 6. 4. 6. 6. 4.

1 Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
   E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
   still all my song shall be,
   nearer, my God, to thee;
   nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

2 Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
   darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
   yet in my dreams I'd be
   nearer, my God, to thee;
   nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

3 There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
   all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
   angels to beckon me
   nearer, my God, to thee;
   nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

4 Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
   out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
   so by my woes to be
   nearer, my God, to thee;
   nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

5 Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
   sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
   still all my song shall be,
   nearer, my God, to thee;
   nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
                         Sarah F. Adams
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
Well, after a bunch of hymns that aren't very popular, this one is the exact opposite, occurring in over 2400 hymnals! Interestingly, she was Unitarian, but I don't see much Unitarian theology in this hymn, except perhaps the lack of mention of Jesus or the Holy Spirit.

Cyberhymnal, as well as a few others, adds a sixth verse:

6. There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
   There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
   Age after age to be, nearer my God to Thee.
   nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

</idle musing>