Within our spirit now doth rest;
He ever seeks thru us to flow,
That God in Christ may be expressed.
The Spirit is confined within;
Instead of giving Him a home,
A prison we’ve become to Him.
Contained in vessels earthen-made;
The vessel must be broken through
And thus the treasure be displayed.
Our outward man does so impede!
It must be broken thoroughly,
And thus the Spirit will be freed.
For us a certain measure makes
Of circumstantial suffering;
’Tis thus our outward man He breaks.
Must be consumed, must be decreased;
The inner man, our spirit, then
Shall with the Spirit be released.
Deliver me from being whole;
And make me willing to receive
The wounds that Thou wouldst give my soul.
Thy breaking, never to complain;
And grant that I may value more
All kinds of loss instead of gain.