My Spirit Longs for Thee

My spirit longs for Thee,
Within my troubled breast,
Though I unworthy be
Of so divine a Guest.

Of so divine a Guest
Unworthy though I be,
Yet has my heart no rest
Unless it come from Thee.

Unless it come from Thee,
In vain I look around;
In all that I can see
No rest is to be found.

No rest is to be found
But in Thy blessèd love;
O let my wish be crowned
And send it from above.

Author: John Byrom

Year: 1750

John Byrom (1692–1763) is the accepted author of this hymn; it first appeared in his posthumous collection Miscellaneous Poems (1773) though likely written earlier. No significant alternate attributions exist.