5 Thy pardoning love, so free, so sweet Dear Savior, I adore;

O keep me at thy sacred feet,

And let me rove no more.

345.

C. M.

MRS. STEELE

Desiring to return.

10 THOU, whose tender mercy hears
Contrition's humble sigh;

Whose hand, indulgent, wipes the tears
From sorrow's weeping eye!

2 See, low before thy throne of grace,
A wretched wanderer mourn ;
Hast thou not bid me seek thy face?
Hast thou not said, 'Return?'

3 And shall my guilty fears prevail
To drive me from thy feet?
O let not this dear refuge fail,
This only safe retreat.

4 Absent from thee, my guide, my light!
Without one cheering ray,

Through dangers, fears, and gloomy night,
How desolate my way!

5 O shine on this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy shine;
And let thy healing voice impart
A taste of joys divine.

PRAYER AND DEVOUT EXERCISES.

346.

C. M.

WATTS.

Heartless Worship an Abomination.

1 GoD is a spirit just and wise,
He sees our inmost mind;

In vain to heaven we raise our cries,
And leave our souls behind.

2 Nothing but truth before his throne
With honor can appear;

The painted hypocrites are known
Through the disguise they wear.

3 Their lifted eyes salute the skies,
Their bending knees the ground;
But God abhors the sacrifice

Where not the heart is found.

4 Lord, search my thoughts, and try my ways, And make my soul sincere;

Then shall I stand before thy face,
And find acceptance there.

347.

L.M.

SCOTT.

Forms of Worship vain without Virtue.

1 TH' uplifted eye and bended knee
Are but vain homage, Lord, to thee;
In vain our lips thy praise prolong,
The heart a stranger to the song.

2 Can rites and forms, and flaming zeal,
The breaches of thy precepts heal?
Can fasts and penance reconcile
Thy justice, and obtain thy smile?

3 The pure, the humble, contrite mind,
Thankful, and to thy will resigned,
To thee a nobler offering yields
Than Sheba's groves, or Sharon's fields;

4 Than floods of oil, or costly wine,
Rolling by thousands to thy shrine ;
Or than, if to thine altar led,

A first-born son the victim bled.

5 'Be just and kind, and humble too,
In all you say, in all you do;
To men your charity impart,

And love your God with all your heart.'

6 This truth, by ancient prophets given, Was by thy Son confirmed from heaven; And, deep engraved, this great command Doth on eternal pillars stand.

PRAYER AND DEVOUT EXERCISES.

346.

C. M.

WATTS.

Heartless Worship an Abomination.

1 GOD is a spirit just and wise, He sees our inmost mind;

In vain to heaven we raise our cries And leave our souls behind.

2 Nothing but truth before his throne
With honor can appear;

The painted hypocrites are known
Through the disguise they wea

3 Their lifted eyes salute the skies
Their bending knees the grou
But God abhors the sacrifice
Where not the heart is found.

4 Lord, search my thoughts, and
And make my soul sincere ;
Then shall I stand before thy
And find acceptance there.