Pardon. Jer. iii. 22. Hos. xiv. 4
HOW oft, alas! this wretched heart
Has wander'd from the Lord!
How oft my roving thoughts depart,
Forgetful of his word.
2 Yet sov'reign mercy calls, "Return:'
Dear Lord, and may I come?
My vile ingratitude I mourn;
Oh, take the wand'rer home.
3 And canst thou, wilt thou yet forgive,
And bid my crimes remove?
And shall a pardon'd rebel live
To speak thy wondrous love?
4 Almighty grace, thy healing power
How glorious, how divine!
That can to bliss and life restore
So vile a heart as mine.
5 Thy pard'ning love, so free, so sweet,
Dear Saviour, I adore;
Oh, keep me at thy sacred feet,
And let me rove no more.
415. The returning Backslider; or, a Prayer for restoring Grace. Hosea xiv. 1, 2. WEARY of wandering from my God, And now made willing to return,
I hear, and bow me to the rod:
For thee, not without hope, 1 mourn;
I have an Advocate above,
A Friend before the Throne of Love.
2 O Jesus, full of truth and grace,
More full of grace than I of sin;
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.
3 Thou know'st the way to bring me back,
My fallen spirit to restore;
O! for thy truth and mercy's sake!
Forgive and hid me sin no more:
The ruins of my soul repair,
And make my heart a House of Prayer.
4 The stone to flesh again convert:
The veil of sin once more remove!
Sprinkle thy blood upon my heart,
And melt it by thy dying love!
This rebel heart by love subdue,
And make it soft and make it new.
5 Give to mine eyes refreshing tears,
And kindle my relentings now;
Fill all my soul with filial fears:
To thy sweet yoke my spirit bow:
Bend by thy grace, O bend or break
The iron sinew in my neck!
Walking with God. Gen. v. 24.
1 OH! 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?
8 What peaceful hours I once enjoy'd.,
How sweet their memory 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.
DEAR Jesus, let thy pitying eye
Call back a wand'ring sheep;
False to my vows, like Peter, I
Would fain, like Peter, weep.
2 Now let me be by grace restor❜d,
To me thy mercy shown;
Oh turn and look upon me, Lord,
And break my heart of stone.
3 Almighty Prince, enthron'd above,
Repentance to impart,
Grant, thro' the greatness of thy love,
The humble, contrite heart.
4 Give, what I should have long implor'd, A taste of love unknown;
Oh, turn and look upon me, Lord,
And break my heart of stone.
5 Behold me, Saviour, from above,
Nor suffer me to die;
For life, and happiness, and love,
Smile in thy gracious eye.
6 Speak but the reconciling word;
Let mercy melt me down:
Oh, turn and look upon me, Lord,
Ánd break my heart of stone:
1OTHAT I were as heretofore! When warm in my first love;
I only live my God t' 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.
3 Far, far above all earthly things
Triumphantly I rode;
1 soar'd to heaven on eagles' wings,
And found and talk'd with God.
4 Where am I now, from what a height
Of happiness cast down!
The glory swallow'd up in night,
And faded is the crown.
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?
Perseverance desired.
JESUS, my Saviour and my God,
Thou hast redeem'd me with thy blood; By ties, both natural and divine,
I am, and ever will be thine.
2 But ah! should my inconstant heart,
Ere I'm aware, from thee depart,
What dire reproach would fall on me
For such ingratitude to thee!
3 The thought I dread, the crime I hate;
The guilt, the shame, I deprecate:
And yet so mighty are my foes,
1 dare not trust my warmest vows.
4 Pity my frailty, dearest Lord!
Grace in the needful hour afford:
O steel this tim'rous heart of mine
With fortitude and love divine.
5 So shall I triumph o'er my fears,
And gather joys from all my tears;
So shall I to the world proclaim
The honours of the Christian name.
6. SANCTIFICATION AND CHRISTIAN GRACES,
My soul thirsteth for God.
THIRST, but not as once I did,
The vain delights of earth to share:
Thy wounds, Emmanuel, all forbid
That I should seek my pleasure there.
2 It was the sight of thy dear cross
First wean'd my soul from earthly things
And taught me to esteem as dross
The mirth of fools and pomp of kings.
SI want that grace that springs from thee,
That quickens all things where it flows,
And makes a wretched thorn, like me,
Bloom as the myrtle, or the rose.
4 Dear fountain of delight unknown!
No longer sink below the brim;
But overflow, and pour me down
A living, and life-giving stream!
5 For sure, of all the plants that share
The notice of thy Father's eye,
None proves less grateful to his care,
Or yields him meaner fruit than 1.
HOLY Lord God! I love thy truth,
Nor dare thy least commandment slignt,
Yet pierc'd by sin, the serpent's tooth,
i mourn the anguish of the bite.
2 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.
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