Restore my peace.
JESUS! full of grace,
To thee I make my moan:
Let me again behold thy face-
Call home thy banish'd one.
2 Again my pardon seal,
Again my soul restore,
And freely my backslidings heal,
And bid me sin no more.
3 Wilt thou not bid me rise!
Speak, and my soul shall live;
Forgive, my gasping spirit cries,-
Abundantly forgive.
4 Thine utmost mercy show;
Say to my drooping soul,--
In peace and full assurance go;
Thy faith hath made thee whole.
THAT I were as heretofore, When, warm in my first love, I only lived my God to' adore, And seek the things above.
2 Upon my head his candle shone,
And, lavish of his grace,
With cords of love he drew me on,
And half unveil'd his face.
3 Far, far above all earthly things
Triumphantly I rode;
I soar'd to heaven on eagles' wings,
And found, and talk'd with God."
4 Where am I now? from what a height Of happiness cast down!
The glory swallow'd up in night,
And faded is the crown.
5 O God, thou art my home, my rest,
For which I sigh in pain;
How shall I 'scape into thy breast!
My Eden how regain!
God's absence deprecated.
THOU, whose mercy hears
Contrition's humble sigh;
Whose hand, indulgent, wipes the tears
From sorrow's weeping eye;-
2 See, at thy throne of grace,
A wretched wand'rer mourn:
Hast thou not bid me seek thy face!
Hast thou not said,-Return!
8 Shall guilty fears prevail
To drive me from thy feet?
O let not this last refuge fail,-
This only safe retreat.
4 Absent from thee, my Light,
Without one cheering ray,
Through dangers, fears, and gloomy night,
How desolate my way!
5 On this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy shine;
And let thy voice again impart
A taste of joy divine.
12th P. M. 76, 76, 78, 76.
The deceitfulness of sin.
JESUS, friend of sinners, hear
Yet once again, I pray
From my debt of sin set clear,
For I have naught to pay:
Speak, O speak the kind release;
A poor backsliding soul restore;
Love me freely, seal my peace,
And bid me sin no more.
2 For my selfishness and pride
Thou hast withdrawn thy grace;
Left me long to wander wide,
An outcast from thy face;
But I now my sins confess,
And mercy, mercy, I implore;
Love me freely, seal my peace,
And bid me sin no more.
3 Sin's deceitfulness hath spread
A hardness o'er my heart;
But if thou thy Spirit shed,
The stony shall depart:
Shed thy love, thy tenderness,
And let me feel thy soft'ning power; Love me freely, seal my peace,
And bid me sin no more.
Seeking restoration.
WHERE is the Saviour now,
W whose smiles I once possess'd!
Till he return, I bow,
By heavy grief oppress'd:
My days of happiness are gone,
And I am left to weep alone.
2 Where can the mourner go,
And tell his tale of grief!
Ah, who can soothe his wo,
Ah, who can give relief!
Earth cannot heal the wounded breast,
Or give the troubled conscience rest.
3 Jesus, thy smiles impart;
My gracious Lord, return,
Bind up my broken heart,
And bid me cease to mourn:
Then shall this night of sorrow flee, And peace and heaven be found in thee.
10th P. M. 8 lines 8s. Forgiveness implored.la
TOW shall a lost sinner in pain,
Recover his forfeited peace!
When brought into bondage again,
What hope of a second release!!
Will mercy itself be so kindow t
To spare a backslider like me!
And O, can I possibly find
TIMES without number have I pray'd,-
This only once forgive;
Relapsing when thy hand was stay'd,
And suffer'd me to live:
2 Yet now the kingdom of thy peace,
Lord, to my heart restore;
Forgive my vain repentances,
And bid me sin no more.
Resolution to return.
YES, from this instant, now, I will
To my offended Father cry;
My base ingratitude I feel;
Vilest of all thy children, I;
Not worthy to be call'd thy son;
Yet will I thee my Father own.
2 Guide of my life hast thou not been,
And rescued me from passion's power!
Ten thousand times preserved from sin,
Nor let the greedy grave devour!
And wilt thou now thy wrath retain,
Nor ever love thy child again!
3 If thou hast call'd me to return,-
If weeping at thy feet I fall,-
The prodigal thou wilt not spurn,
But pity and forgive me all,
In answer to my Friend above,-
In honour of his bleeding love.
The wanderer returning.
TOW oft this wretched heart
HHas Wander'd from the Lord;
How oft my roving thoughts depart,
Forgetful of his word."
2 Yet mercy calls,-Return;
Saviour, to thee I come:
My vile ingratitude I mourn;
O take the wand'rer home!
3 Thy love, so free, so sweet,
Blest Saviour, I adore;
O, keep me at thy sacred feet,
And let me rove no more.
Restored by grace.
JESUS, if thy free grace
Again hath raised me up,
And call'd me still to seek thy face,
And given me back my hope,-
Thy timely help afford,
Thy loving-kindness show;
O keep me, keep me, gracious Lord,
And never let me go.
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