Make me a captive, Lord

Make me a captive, Lord. George Matheson* (1842-1906). This was written in 1890 at Rhu, near Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire. It was first published in Matheson’s Sacred Songs (Edinburgh and London, 1890), with a title, ‘Christian Freedom. It was preceded by a quotation: ‘“Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ” - EPHES iii. 1.’. The four stanzas dealt with the paradox of captivity/weakness becoming freedom/strength when applied to the soul in relation to God: Make me a captive, Lord,  And then I shall be free;Force me to render up my sword,  And I shall conqueror be.I sink in life's alarms  When by myself I stand;Imprison me within Thine arms,  And strong shall be my hand. My heart is weak and...