Friends and ministers said much

The Gospel to enforce;

But my blindness still was such,

I chose a legal course.

Much I fasted, watch'd, and strove,
Scarce would show my face abroad,
Fear'd almost to speak or move,
A stranger still to God.

Thus afraid to trust His grace,
Long time did I rebel;
Till, despairing of my case,
Down at His feet I fell.

Then my stubborn heart He broke,
And subdued me to His sway,

By a simple word He spoke

Thy sins are done away!'

64. C. HATRED OF SIN.

HOLY LORD GOD! I love Thy truth,

Nor dare Thy least commandment slight;
Yet pierced by sin, the serpent's tooth,
I mourn the anguish of the bite.

But though the poison lurks within,
Hope bids me still with patience wait,
Till death shall set me free from sin,
Free from the only thing I hate.

Had I a throne above the rest,

Where angels and archangels dwell; One sin, unslain, within my breast,

Would make that heaven as dark as hell.

The prisoner sent to breathe fresh air,
And bless'd with liberty again,

Would mourn were he condemned to wear
One link of all his former chain.

But, oh! no foe invades the bliss

When glory crowns the Christian's head;

One view of Jesus as He is

Will strike all sin for ever dead.

65. THE CHILD.*

QUIET, Lord, my froward heart,
Make me teachable and mild;
Upright, simple, free from art,
Make me as a weaned child:
From distrust and envy free,
Pleased with all that pleases Thee.
What Thou shalt to-day provide,
Let me as a child receive;
What to-morrow may betide,
Calmly to Thy wisdom leave:
'Tis enough that Thou wilt care;
Why should I the burden bear?

* Psa. cxxxi. 2; Matt. xviii. 3, 4.

As a little child relies

On a care beyond his own;

Knows he's neither strong nor wise;
Fears to stir a step alone;

Let me thus with Thee abide,
As my Father, Guard, and Guide.

Thus preserved from Satan's wiles,
Safe from dangers, free from fears,
May I live upon Thy smiles,

Till the promised hour appears,

When the sons of God shall prove
All their Father's boundless love!

66. TRUE HAPPINESS.

Fix my heart and eyes on Thine!
What are other objects worth?
But to see Thy glory shine
Is a heaven begun on earth:
Trifles can no longer move,

Oh, I tread on all beside,
When I feel my Saviour's love,
And remember how he died.

Now my search is at an end,

Now my wishes rove no more. Thus my moments I would spendLove, and wonder, and adore.

Jesus, source of excellence!

All Thy glorious love reveal!
Kingdoms shall not bribe me hence,
While this happiness I feel.

Take my heart, 'tis all Thine own,
To Thy will my spirit frame;
Thou shalt reign, and Thou alone,
Over all I have or am.

If a foolish thought shall dare
To rebel against Thy word,
Slay it, Lord, and do not spare ;
Let it feel Thy Spirit's sword.
Making thus the Lord my choice,
I have nothing more to choose
But to listen to Thy voice,
And my will in Thine to lose:
Thus, whatever may betide,
I shall safe and happy be;
Still content and satisfied,
Having all in having Thee.

67. THE HAPPY DEBTOR.

TEN thousand talents once I owed,

And nothing had to pay,
But Jesus freed me from the load,
And wash'd my debt away.

Yet since the Lord forgave my sin,
And blotted out my score,

See page 148.

Much more indebted I have been
Than e'er I was before.

My guilt is cancell'd quite, I know,

And satisfaction made;

But the vast debt of love I owe
Can never be repaid.

The love I owe for sin forgiven,

For power to believe,

For present peace and promised heaven,
No angel can conceive.

That love of Thine, Thou sinner's Friend

Witness Thy bleeding heart!

My little all can ne'er extend

To pay a thousandth part.

Nay more, the poor returns I make
I first from Thee obtain ;*

And 'tis of grace that Thou wilt take
Such poor returns again.

"Tis well-it shall my glory be

(Let who will boast their store),

In time and to eternity,

To owe Thee more and more.

Similar Hymns.

Book I. Hymns 27, 50, 70, 93, 122.
Book II. Hymns 23, 90.

* 1 Chron. xxix. 14.