4 Far off the Father saw him move,

In pensive silence mourn,

And quickly ran, with arms of love,
To welcome his return.

5 Through all the courts the tidings flew, And spread the joy around;

The angels tuned their harps anew,-
The long-lost son is found!

431

L'

12th P. M. 76, 76, 78, 76.

Saved by grace.

ET the world their virtue boast,-
Their works of righteousness;

I, a wretch undone and lost,

Am freely saved by grace;

Other title I disclaim;

This, only this, is all my plea :

I the chief of sinners am,

But Jesus died for me.

:

2 Happy they whose joys abound
Like Jordan's swelling stream ;
Who their heaven in Christ have found,
And give the praise to him.
Meanest foll'wer of the Lamb,

His steps I at a distance see:-
I the chief of sinners am,

But Jesus died for me.

3 Jesus, thou for me hast died,
And thou in me wilt live;
I shall feel thy death applied;
I shall thy life receive:
Yet, when melted in the flame

Of love, this shall be all my plea,—

I the chief of sinners am,

But Jesus died for me.

432

OFT

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH.

11th P. M. 76, 76, 77 76.

The righteousness of faith.

FT I in my heart have said,—
Who shall ascend on high,

Mount to Christ, my glorious Head,
And bring him from the sky?
Borne on contemplation's wing,
Surely I shall find him there,
Where the angels praise their King,
And gain the Morning Star.
2 Oft I in my heart have said,—
Who to the deep shall stoop,
Sink with Christ among the dead,
From thence to bring him up?
Could I but my heart prepare,
By unfeign'd humility,
Christ would quickly enter there,
And ever dwell in me.

3 But the righteousness of faith
Hath taught me better things:-
Inward turn thine eyes,-it saith,
While Christ to me it brings:-
Christ is ready to impart

Life to all, for life who sigh:
In thy mouth and in thy heart
The word is ever nigh.

433

L

L. M.

The Lord our Righteousness.
ET not the wise their wisdom boast,
The mighty glory in their might;
The rich in flatt'ring riches trust,
Which take their everlasting flight.

2 The rush of num'rous years bears down The most gigantic strength of man; And where is all his wisdom gone, When, dust, he turns to dust again? 3 One only gift can justify

The boasting soul that knows his God; When Jesus doth his blood apply,

I glory in his sprinkled blood.

4 The Lord my righteousness I praise, I triumph in the love divine;

The wisdom, wealth, and strength of grace, In Christ to endless ages mine.

434

JESU

6th P. M. 6 lines 77.

The covenant of grace signed and sealed.
ESUS Christ, who stands between
Angry Heaven and guilty men,
Undertakes to buy our peace;
Gives the covenant of grace;
Ratifies and makes it good;
Signs and seals it with his blood.
2 Life his healing blood imparts,
Sprinkled in our peaceful hearts.
Abel's blood for vengeance cried;
Jesus speaks us justified;

Speaks and calls for better things;
Makes us prophets, priests, and kings.

435

A

The realizing light of faith.

UTHOR of faith, eternal Word,

L. M.

Whose Spirit breathes the active flame; Faith, like its finisher and Lord,

To-day, as yesterday, the same :

2 To thee our humble hearts aspire, And ask the gift unspeakable; Increase in us the kindled fire,

In us the work of faith fulfil.

3 By faith we know thee strong to save. (Save us, a present Saviour thou :) Whate'er we hope, by faith we have; Future, and past, subsisting now.

4 To him that in thy Name believes,
Eternal life with thee is given;
Into himself he all receives,-

Pardon, and holiness, and heaven.
5 The things unknown to feeble sense,
Unseen by reason's glimm'ring ray,
With strong commanding evidence,
Their heavenly origin display.

6 Faith lends its realizing light;
The clouds disperse, the shadows fly;
The' Invisible appears in sight,
And God is seen by mortal eye.

436

L. M.

Salvation only by grace through faith.
E have no outward righteousness,
No merits or good works, to plead ;
We only can be saved by grace;
Thy grace, O Lord, is free indeed.

2 Save us by grace, through faith alone,-
A faith thou must thyself impart;
A faith that would by works be shown,
A faith that purifies the heart :

3 A faith that doth the mountains move,
A faith that shows our sins forgiven,
A faith that sweetly works by love,

And ascertains our claim to heaven.

4 This is the faith we humbly seek,
The faith in thy all-cleansing blood;
That faith which doth for sinners speak,
O let it speak us up to God!

437

NOW

1st P. M. 6 lines 8s.

The soul's anchor.

I have found the ground wherein Sure my soul's anchor may remain ; The wounds of Jesus for my sin,

Before the world's foundation slain;
Whose mercy shall unshaken stay,
When heaven and earth are fled away.
2 Father, thine everlasting grace

Our scanty thought surpasses far:
Thy heart still melts with tenderness;
Thine arms of love still open are,
Returning sinners to receive,
That mercy they may taste, and live.
3 O love, thou bottomless abyss!
My sins are swallow'd up in thee;
Cover'd is my unrighteousness,

Nor spot of guilt remains on me:
While Jesus' blood, through earth and skies,
Mercy, free, boundless mercy, cries.
4 By faith I plunge me in this sea;
Here is my hope, my joy, my rest;
Hither, when hell assails, I flee;

I look into my Saviour's breast: Away, sad doubt and anxious fear! Mercy is all that's written there.

438

C. M.

Faith counted for righteousness.
ATHER of Jesus Christ, my Lord,---
My Saviour, and my Head,-

FAT

I trust in thee, whose powerful word
Hath raised him from the dead.

2 Thou know'st for my offence he died,
And rose again for me;

Fully and freely justified,
That I might live to thee.