3 How cold and feeble is my love! how negligent my care!

How low my hope of joys above!

how few affections there!

4 Great God! thy sovereign power impart,
to give thy word success:
Write thy salvation.in my heart,
and make me learn thy grace.

5 Show my forgetful feet the way
that leads to joys on high;
There knowledge grows without decay,
and love shall never die..

286.

The fears and hopes of Contrition,

1 WHEN rising from the bed of death, o'erwhelm'd with guilt and fear,

I see my Maker face to face,

O how shall I appear!

2 If yet while pardon may be found, and mercy may be sought,

My heart with inward horror shrinks and trembles at the thought:

3 When thou, O Lord! shalt stand disclos'd in majesty severe,

And sit in judgement on my soul,

O how shall I appear!

4 But thou hast told the troubled mind who doth her sins lament,

That timely grief, through thy dear Son,

shall future woe prevent.

5 Then see the sorrows of my heart, ere yet it be too late;

And hear my Saviour's dying groans, to give these sorrows weight.

6 For never shall my soul despair of mercy at thy throne,

1

Who knows thine only Son has died thy justice to atone.

287.

The same.

LORD, since mercy is with thee, Now let it all on me be shown, On me the chief of sinners, me

Who humbly for thy mercy groan: Me to thy bounteous grace restore, Nor ever let me grieve thee more.

2 Fountain of unexhausted love,

Of infinite compassions, hear;
My Saviour, and my Prince above,
Once more in my behalf appear:
Repentance, faith, and pardon give,
O let me turn again, and live.

288.

The same.

I BLACK heavy thoughts like mountains roll

O'er my poor breast, with boding fears;

And crushing hard my troubled soul, Wring through my eyes the briny tears.

2 Great Advocate, look down and see A sinner, overwhelm'd with grief; O plead with justice, plead for me,

And send my contrite heart relief.

3 How sweet the voice of pardon sounds!
Again to see my Father's face,
And feel the balm that heals my wounds,
The balm of mercy and of grace.

4 Hence, from my soul my sins depart,
Your fatal friendship now I see;
My God! I give to thee my heart,
Who gav'st thy Son to die for me.

289.

Trust in Danger.

1 THE billows swell, the winds are high, Clouds overcast my wintry sky,

Out of the depths to thee I call,

My fears are great, my strength is small.

2 O Lord! thou all things canst perform,
Now guide and guard me through the storm,
Defend me from each threat'ning ill,
Controul the waves, say "Peace, be still."

3 Amidst the roaring of the sea,

My soul still hangs her hope on thee,
Thy constant love and constant care,
Is all that saves me from despair.

290.

Good from Evil.

YE fearful saints, fresh courage take;
the clouds ye so much dread,
Are big with mercy, and shall break
in blessings on your head.

2 Judge not by nature's feeble eye,
but trust the God of grace;

Behind those clouds which veil the sky, are shining mercy's rays.

3 His purposes will open fast,
unfolding ev'ry hour,

The bud may have a bitter taste,
but sweet will be the flower.

291.

Light sought in Darkness.

1 IN vain the dusky night retires,

and sullen shadows fly;

In vain the morn with purple light,
adorns the eastern sky:

2 In vain dispensing vernal sweets,
the morning breezes play;

In vain the birds with cheerful songs, salute the new born day:

3 In vain, unless my Saviour's grace these gloomy clouds controul, And dissipate the heavy shades,

which press my drooping soul.

4 Lord, hear thy troubled servant's prayer, send favour from on high;

Shine with thy light, immortal Sun,

and all these shades will die.

292.

Rest on God.

1 WHILE thee I seek, protecting Power,

be my vain wishes still'd,
And may this consecrated hour,

with better hopes be fill'd.

Thy love the power of thought bestow'd,
to thee my thoughts would soar,
Thy mercy o'er my life has flow'd,
That mercy I adore.

2 In each event of life how clear
thy ruling hand I see;

Each blessing to my soul more dear,
because conferr'd by thee:

In ev'ry joy which crowns my days,
in ev'ry pain I bear,

My heart shall find delight in praise,
or seek relief in prayer.

3 When gladness wings my favour'd hour,
thy love my thoughts shall fill;
Resign'd when storms of sorrow lour,
my soul shall meet thy will:
My lifted eye without a tear

the low'ring storm will see; My stedfast heart shall know no fear, that heart will rest on thee.