Lord, let me be a pure stream

Lord, let me be a pure stream

(Thomas Sherman, “Divine Breathings; Or, a Pious Soul Thirsting after Christ”)

Jordan, that famous river, no doubt runs through many a pleasant meadow, by many a shady grove and flowery bank; and yet at last empties itself into the Dead Sea. 

So it is with a wicked man! Here on earth he walks through meadows of worldly pleasures, and rests under the shades of earthly comforts, and sports and wallows among the flowers of worldly delights–but at last runs himself down into the Dead Sea of Hell.And not only so–but . . .
  his earthly delights will fade,
  his beauty shall be turned into horror,
  his honor shall be turned into shame,
  his lusts shall be turned into tormentors, and
  his pleasures shall be turned into bitterness! 

Lord, let me be a pure stream, that I may terminate in Heaven! I care not what difficult channels I pass through here on earth–if in Heaven I may exchange my weakness and corruption, for perfection and glory!