Christ the Chief Good

Christ the Chief Good (Song of Solomon 5:10)

Compared with Christ, in all beside
No comeliness I see;
The one thing needful, dearest Lord,
Is to be one with Thee.

The sense of Thy expiring love,
Into my soul convey;
Thyself bestow, for Thee alone,
My All in all, I pray.

Less than Thyself will not suffice
My comfort to restore;
More than Thyself I cannot crave,
And Thou canst give no more.

Loved of my God, for Him again
With love intense I’d burn;
Chosen of Thee ere time began,
I choose Thee in return.

Whate’er consists not with Thy love,
Oh, teach me to resign;
I’m rich to all intents of bliss,
If Thou, O God, art mine.

— Augustus M. Toplady (1740-1778)