A Hymn by Wacthman Nee

How vast, immense, and measureless
The love of Christ to me!
How else could such a wretch as I
Be blessed so graciously?

To bring me back unto Himself,
My Lord His all did spend;
So I would gladly bear the cross
And follow to the end.

My all I have forsaken now,
This blessed Christ to gain;
Now life or death is no concern-
What else can me restrain?

My dear ones, wealth, ambition, fame-
What can they offer me?
My gracious Lord for me was poor;
For Him I poor would be.

My precious Savior now I love,
Him only would I please.
For Him all gain a loss becomes,
And comfort holds no ease.

Thou art my comfort, gracious Lord!
I've none in heav'n but Thee.
And who but Thee is there on earth
With whom I love to be?

Though loneliness and trials come,
My griefs I'd rise above,
This only would I ask Thee, Lord:
Surround me with Thy love!

O gracious Lord, I now beseech,
Guide me through every stage;
Stand by and strengthen me to go
Through this dark, evil age.

The world, the flesh, and Satan, too,
Do tempt my soul apace;
Without Thy love and strength'ning power
I may Thy name disgrace.

The time, dear Lord, is running short;
From earth my soul set free.
When Thou dost come, I'll sing with joy,
Hallelujah to Thee!

Thanks Greg for this. I've not seen it before, and exhibits a side of Nee that I'm not so aware of; his devotional side. It is quite beautiful and sweet, and it is simple.

Nee was a very deep and brilliant theologian, and tackled complex ideas. It's good to see this. As you know, and I want to add..it seems like this song became a fulfilled prophesy to him.

"Oh gracious Lord, I now beseech,
Guide me through every stage;
Stand by and strengthen me to go
Through this dark, evil age.

The world, the flesh, and Satan, too,
Do tempt my soul apace;
Without Thy love and strength'ning power
I may Thy name disgrace.

The time, dear Lord, is running short;
From earth my soul set free.
When Thou dost come, I'll sing with joy,
Hallelujah to Thee!"

The brother was thrown into prison the last 20 years of his life, and stripped of everything...released only a few months before his impending death.

He suffered the loss of all..just like he wrote. His beloved wife, sons, family and friends, all of his possessions, and his health...for 20 years..All because of Jesus, his Lord and Master.

"Watchman Nee was arrested in March 1952. He was judged, falsely condemned, and sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment in 1956. He died in confinement on May 30, 1972."..[released close to his death..]

Watchman Nee was a man of sorrows and suffering. Along his entire path of following the Lamb, he suffered much. Through all these sufferings, however, he learned many lessons. These sufferings not only helped him learn to trust the Lord; they also benefited him in dealing with his flesh, his self, his soul, and his natural life."

Great site here about one of my hero's:

http://www.watchmannee.org/life-ministry.html