Avert my gaze from earthly toys,
And teach me in Thy perfect love
To find the source of all my joys.
Let my desire on Thee be fixed
To glory in no will but Thine,
My joy, to do it all unmixed
With workings wrought of my design.
Let me esteem the throes of death
As better far than Thine offense
And labour with my dying breath
To please my Lord, my confidence.
O Father, glory be to Thee,
And blessed Son, and Holy Ghost;
And in my being, let it be
That Thou art glorified the most.
—Zachary Pletan
completed 6/13/12
Tune: "Prompte et Sincere," Zachary Pletan
Thoughts
This is the hymnodic equivalent of a doodle, but it's one of my better doodles, and I actually finished it. I wrote it based on John Calvin's motto, Cor meum tibi offero domine prompte et sincere ("My heart I offer thee, Lord, promptly and sincerely"), and another quote from him, "True piety consists in a sincere feeling which loves God as Father as much as it fears and reverences Him as Lord, embraces His righteousness, and dreads offending Him worse than death."Update: So, while driving a cargo van, I had the inspiration for the tune now attached to this post. I eventually set it down and tried to get a decent harmony. I then googled "rules for harmony" and completely rewrote it, resulting in what you see now. (You may download it in PDF here.) I would love to hear opinions or insights from anyone who actually happens to be musically informed. In any case, enjoy the tune!
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