1 Out in the dew and cold He stands,
The drops of night are on His hair;
In patient love He waits without:
And who, who keeps Him there?
2 All heaven is in His earnest voice,
All glory on His brow so fair:
In sorr’wing love He stands without:
And who, who keeps Him there?
3 “Open to Me, beloved one!
With Me thy heart and dwelling share!”
But still at the barr’d door He stands:
And who, who keeps Him there?
4 He hath no place to lay His head,
No one a home or roof will spare;
No one respondeth when He knocks:
And who, who keeps Him there?
5 The winds are out, the storm is up,
Freezing and sharp the midnight air;
He does not leave, but knocketh on:
And who, who keeps Him there?
6 Our ear is sealed, our heart is cold,
And we refuse both hearth and fare:
He speaks, we hear not: ah, ‘tis we—
Yes, we who keep Him there!
7 But now no more we shut Thee out,
O Thou, the fairest of the fair!
Come in, Thou blessèd One; we will
No longer keep Thee there.
Source: Hymns of Consecration and Faith #471
Horatius Bonar was born at Edinburgh, in 1808. His education was obtained at the High School, and the University of his native city. He was ordained to the ministry, in 1837, and since then has been pastor at Kelso. In 1843, he joined the Free Church of Scotland. His reputation as a religious writer was first gained on the publication of the "Kelso Tracts," of which he was the author. He has also written many other prose works, some of which have had a very large circulation. Nor is he less favorably known as a religious poet and hymn-writer. The three series of "Hymns of Faith and Hope," have passed through several editions.
--Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872… Go to person page >
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