6 Set upon Thyself my feet,
And make me surely stand;
From temptation's rage and heat
Cover me with Thy hand:
Let me in the cleft be placed,
Never from my fence remove,
In Thine arms of love embraced,
Of everlasting love.
FOR ONE CONVINCED OF INORDINATE
WOE is me! that wretched man
More than my God I prize!
Well I know them void and vain,
Yet pant for earthly joys:
Downward still my wishes move,
Though fairer than earth's sons Thou art:
Touch me, Jesus, with Thy love,
And vindicate my heart.
Happiness is not in me,"
Though every creature cry,
Still the airy form I see
Where'er I turn mine eye;
After shadows still I rove,
Nor can I with my idols part:
Touch me, Jesus, &c.
Burning with unhallow'd fires,
Thou seest, my tortured breast
Pines away with low desires,
Stranger to joy and rest:
How shall I this death remove?
How tear away the' inrooted dart ?
Touch me, Jesus, &c.
Poison now o'erflows my cup,
Fills me with thrilling pain,
Drinks my blood and spirits up,
And throbs in every vein;
Yet I fear Thy grace to prove,
I dread for Thee with all to part:
Touch me, Jesus, &c.
God, arise, Thou jealous God,
And all Thy foes subdue;
Claim the purchase of Thy blood,
Create my soul anew;
Let it now no longer rove,
Now let me taste how good Thou art:
Touch me, Jesus, &c.
As Thou my God art pure;
Make my wounded spirit whole,
And all my sickness cure;
From Thee never let me move,
Thou my sufficient portion art:
Touch me, Jesus, &c.
From all filthiness of flesh
And spirit make me clean;
Stamp Thine image, Lord, afresh,
And purge me from all sin:
Thee my God, my all I prove;
Ah! never more from me depart;
Fill, O Jesu, with Thy love
My vindicated heart.
LET ME DIE WITH THE PHILISTINES.
I WHERE is my strength, my faith, my God,
My confidence of boasting now?
Borne down by sin's revolting load,
Beneath its iron yoke I bow,
Again indignantly I groan;
My strength, my faith, my God is gone.
2 Departed is the Lord from me,
Weak as another man I am;
Spoil'd of my power and liberty,
I bear my punishment and shame ;
The world their feeble foe despise,
Their god hath put out both mine eyes.
3 Into their hands by sin betray'd,
(The sin I cherish'd in my breast,)
Low in the deepest dungeon laid,
Fetter'd in brass, by guilt opprest,
A slave to Satan I remain,
And bite, but cannot burst, my chain.
4 Now to their idol's temple brought,
A sport I am to fiends and men;
They set my helplessness at nought,
They triumph in my toil and pain ;
The' uncircumcised lift up their voice,
And Dagon's worshippers rejoice.
5 Remember me, O Lord, my God,
If ever I could call Thee mine
Though now I perish in my blood,
And all my hopes of heaven resign,
Yet listen to my latest call,
Nor suffer me alone to fall.
6 O, cast not out my dying prayer!
Strengthen me with Thy Spirit's might This only once: I pray Thee, hear; Avenge me for my loss of sight; Avenge it on mine enemies,
For they have put out both mine eyes.
7 Blind as I am, with both my hands
The pillars let me feel, and seize,
On which the house of Dagon stands,
The pillars of self-righteousness:
'Tis done; with all my might I bow :
Help me, O God, and help me now.
8 Now let the ponderous ruin fall,
And crush the world, and Satan's head;
O, let it now o'erwhelm us all :
Since I must sink among the dead,
Since I can neither fight nor fly,
Let me with the Philistines die!
AFTER A RELAPSE INTO SIN.
I JESU, wherewith shall I draw near,
What shall I for acceptance bring?
How in my Judge's sight appear
A rebel 'gainst my God and King?
Loudly my sins for vengeance cry,
And justice wills that I should die.
2 Summon'd to answer at Thy bar,
I come, but "Guilty, guilty" plead!
Did I not all Thy judgments dare?
On all Thy tender mercies tread?
Death's sentence justly I receive;
I am not worthy, Lord, to live.
3 Then let me every good resign,
And give my forfeit blessings back ;
My gifts and blessings were not mine;
Thou, only Thou, the glory take :
I might have heard Thy frequent call ;
I might have stood, though now I fall.
4 Long did Thy loving Spirit strive
To win me over to my good;
The spark of grace was kept alive
For years amidst temptation's flood:
I now have sinn'd it all away,
And ended is my gracious day.
5 An alien from the life Divine,
The covenant of promised grace,
Saviour, no more I call Thee mine;
An outcast from Thy blissful face,
Without or faith, or joy, or hope,
I give (but must I give) Thee up?
6 Yes with my shield of faith I part; My hope is lost in just despair; Love is not in my stony heart,
It cannot be, while sin is there;
My vain pretensions sin disproves ;
He cannot sin who Jesus loves.
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