2

Yet now, Thou know'st, I fear,
I fear to ask Thy grace;

So often have I, Lord, drawn near,
And mock'd Thee to Thy face :

With all pollutions stain'd,

Thy hallow'd courts I trod,

Thy name and temple I profaned,

And dared to call Thee God.

3

Nigh with my lips I drew,

My lips were all unclean;

Thee with my heart I never knew,

My heart was full of sin:

Far from the living God,
As far as hell from heaven,
Thy purity I still abhorr'd,
Nor look'd to be forgiven.

4

My nature I obey'd,

My own desire pursued ;

And still a den of thieves I made

The hallow'd house of God:

The worship He approves,
To Him I would not pay;

My selfish ends, and creature-loves,

Had stole my heart away.

Spoke to my soul a flattering peace,

And put out mine own eyes :

In fig-leaves I appear'd,

Nor with my form would part;
But still retain'd a conscience sear'd,
An hard, deceitful heart.

I long appear'd in sight;

By self and Satan taught to paint

My tomb, my nature, white:

The Pharisee within

Still undisturb'd remain'd;

The strong man, arm'd with guilt of sin,
Safe in his palace reign'd.

Jesus Himself the stronger show'd,

And claim'd me for His own:

My spirit He alarm'd,

And brought into distress;

He shook and bound the strong man, arm'd

In his self-righteousness.

My form without the power;
The sin-convincing Spirit blew,
And blasted every flower :

My mouth was stopp'd, and shame
Cover'd my guilty face;

I fell on the Atoning Lamb,
And I was saved by grace.

I

PART II.

YET SOON my wretched heart
To folly turn'd again.

How could I, Lord, from Thee depart,
And make Thy mercy vain?

'Twas pride my soul betray'd;

I lost my poverty,

An idol of Thy gifts I made,

And loved them more than Thee.

2 Thy perfect comeliness,

In which my soul did shine, Dazzled my eyes; Thy glorious dress I fondly counted mine:

With sacrilegious boast

I spread mine own renown,

And in Thy beauty put my trust,

And call'd it all my own.

3

I thought not of my God,

Nor call'd to mind the day

When naked, foul, and in my blood,

And loathed of all, I lay :

None cast a pitying eye,

None could assistance give,

Till Jesus graciously pass'd by,

And bade the sinner live.

How weak my heart that could submit,

And let the mischief in!

5

I fell, alas! through pride;
I needed not Thy blood,
As when I felt it first, and cried,
"Thou art my Lord, my God!”
O that I once again

“My Lord, my God" could cry! Dost Thou not on my sin and pain

Still cast a pitying eye?

Thy mercy still is free;

For aggravated guilt,

For sinners foul and black as me

6

Thy precious blood was spilt.

Thou seest me lost in shame,

But Thou canst still forgive;
Polluted in my blood I am,

But Thou canst bid me live.

O, speak the gracious word,
Thy mercy let me prove;
Stand still, and look upon me, Lord,

Make this the time of love.

My worthless soul to win,

Spread over me Thy skirt, and hide

My nakedness and sin:

Impute Thy righteousness,

Wash away all my blood,

Adorn me now with every grace,

And feed, and fill with God.

A PRAYER FOR RESTORING GRACE.

I

2

3

4

JESU, Friend of sinners, hear,

Yet once again I pray ;
From my debt of sin set clear,

For I have nought 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.

For my selfishness and pride,
Thou hast withdrawn Thy grace;

Left me long to wander wide,

An outcast from Thy face;

But I now my sins confess,
And mercy, mercy I implore:
Love me freely, &c.

Though my sins as mountains rise,
And swell and reach to heaven,
Mercy is above the skies,

I may be still forgiven:
Infinite my sins' increase,
But greater is Thy mercy's store :

Love me freely, &c.

Sin's deceitfulness hath spread
An hardness o'er my heart;
But if Thou Thy Spirit shed,
The stony shall depart :

Shed Thy love, Thy tenderness,
And let me feel the softening power :
Love me freely, &c.