BACKSLIDINGS LAMENTED.

867

Lukewarmness.

GOD of unspotted purity,

Us, and our works, canst thou behold? Justly are they abhorr'd by thee,

Whose works are neither hot nor cold.

L. M.

2 Better that we had never known The way to heaven, through saving grace, Than basely in our lives disown,

And slight and mock thee to thy face. 30 let us our own works forsake;

Ourselves and all we have deny: Thy condescending counsel take;

And come to thee, pure gold to buy. 40 may we through thy grace attain

The faith thou never wilt reprove;-
The faith that purges every stain,
The faith that always works by love.
868

L. M.

Humble confession.

AVIOUR, I now with shame confess
My thirst for creature happiness;
By base desires I wrong'd thy love,
And forced thy mercy to remove.
2 Yet, O the riches of thy grace!
Thou, who hast seen my evil ways,
Wilt freely my backslidings heal,
And pardon on my conscience seal.
3 Yea, for thy truth and mercy's sake,
My comfort thou wilt give me back;
And lead me on from grace to grace,
In all the paths of righteousness:

4 Till throughly saved my new-born soul,
And perfectly by faith made whole,
Shall bright in thy full image rise,
To share thy glory in the skies.

869

C. M.

0

Lamenting the absence of the Spirit.
FOR a closer walk with God,--
A calm and heavenly frame;
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb.
2 Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul-refreshing view
Of Jesus and his word?

3 What peaceful hours I once enjoy'd!
How sweet their mem'ry still!
But they have left an aching void.
The world can never fill.

4 Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest:

I hate the sins that made thee mourn,
And drove thee from my breast.

5 The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,

Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only thee.

6 So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

870

C. M.

Mourning departed joys.

SWEET was the time when first I felt

The Saviour's

Applied to cleanse my soul from guilt,
And bring me home to God.

2 Soon as the morn the light reveal'd,
His praises tuned my tongue;
And when the evening shades prevail'd,
His love was all my song.

3 In prayer my soul drew near the Lord,
And saw his glory shine;
And when I read his holy word,
I call'd each promise mine.

4 But now, when evening shade prevails,
My soul in darkness mourns;
And when the morn the light reveals,
No light to me returns.

5 Rise, Lord, and help me to prevail;
O make my soul thy care;
I know thy mercy cannot fail ;-
Let me that mercy share.

871

1st P. M. 6 lines 8s.

Heal my backslidings. JESUS, full of truth and grace,grace than

Yet once again I seek thy face; Open thine arms and take me in! And freely my backslidings heal, And love the faithless sinner still.

Thou know'st the way to bring me back,My fallen spirit to restore; O! for thy truth and mercy's sake, Forgive, and bid me sin no more: he ruins of my soul repair, nd make my heart a house of prayer. Ah, give me, Lord, the tender heart, That trembles at the' approach of sin; godly fear of sin impart; Implant and root it deep within, at I may dread thy gracious power, d never dare to' offend thee more.

-

872

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.

S. M.

4 Thine utmost mercy show;
Say to my drooping soul,-
In peace and full assurance go;
Thy faith hath made thee whole.

873

Loss of first love.

0

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.

C. M.

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.

The glory swallow'd up in night,

And faded is the crown.

4 Where am I now? from what a height Of happiness cast down!

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?

874

3 Shall guilty fears prevail
To drive me from thy feet?
O let not this last refuge fail,—
This only safe retreat.

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, thy throne of grace, A wretched wand'rer mourn: Hast thou not bid me seek thy face? Hast thou not said,-Return?

S. M.

5 On this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy shine;
And let thy voice again impart
A taste of joy divine.

875

4 Absent from thee, my Light,
Without one cheering ray,-
Through dangers, fears, and gloomy night,
How desolate my way!

JESUS, friend of sinners, hear

Yet once
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.

12th P. M. 76, 76, 78, 76. The deceitfulness of sin.