Till every grace combine to prove
That God has fixed his dwelling there.

371.

C. M.

The Prodigal's Return.

VILLAGE HYMNS.

1 THE long-lost son, with streaming eyes,
From folly just awake,

Reviews his wanderings with surprise;
His heart begins to break.

2 "I starve," he cries, "nor can I bear
The famine in this land,

While servants of my Father share
The bounty of his hand.

3 "With deep repentance I'll return
And seek my Father's face;
Unworthy to be called a son,
I'll ask a servant's place."

4 Far off the Father saw him move,
In pensive silence mourn,

And quickly ran, with arms of love,
To welcome his return.

5 Through all the courts the tidings flew,
And spread the joy around;

The angels tuned their harps anew ;
The long-lost son is found!

1 O THOU, whose mercy hears
Contrition's humble sigh;

Whose hand indulgent wipes the tears
From sorrow's weeping eye!

2 See, low before thy throne,

A wretched wanderer mourn;

Hast thou not bid me seek thy face?
Hast thou not said, "Return" ?

STEELE.

3 Absent from thee, my light,
Without one cheering ray,

Through dangers, fears, and gloomy night,
How desolate my way!

4 On this benighted heart

With beams of mercy shine;
And let thy healing voice impart
A taste of joys divine.

5 Thy presence can bestow
Delights which never cloy;
Be this my solace here below,
And my eternal joy!

373.

S. M.

Obedience to God our Father.

1 MY Father! I adore

That all commanding name;

BELKNAP'S COLL.

O, may it virtue's strength restore,
And raise devotion's flame!

2 I bow at thy commands,

And filial homage pay;

With heart and life, with tongue and hands,
I'll cheerfully obey.

3 No more will I transgress,

As I too oft have done;
But every sinful thought suppress,
Each sinful action shun.

4 My Father thus I'll claim,

And prove myself his son ;
And, while I bear the filial name,
The filial duties own.

5 Do thou the strength impart,

This purpose to fulfil:

Lord, write thy laws upon my heart,
That I may do thy will.

374.

C. M.

Sufficiency of Grace.

NEEDHAM.

1 KIND are the words that Jesus speaks
To cheer the drooping saint:
"My grace sufficient is for you,

Though nature's powers may faint.
2 "My grace its glories shall display,
And make your griefs remove;
Your weakness shall the triumphs tell
Of boundless power and love."

3 What though my griefs are not removed?
Yet why should I despair ?

For, if my Saviour's arm support,
I can the burden bear.

4 O thou, my Saviour and my Lord,
'T is good to trust thy name;

Thy power, thy faithfulness, and love,
Will ever be the same.

5 Weak as I am, yet through thy grace
I all things can perform,

And, smiling, triumph in thy name
Amid the raging storm.

375.

S. M.

Mercy implored.

1 THOU Lord of all above

And all below the sky,

Before thy feet I prostrate fall,
And for thy mercy cry.

BEDDOME.

2 Guilt, like a heavy load,
Upon my conscience lies;
To thee I make my sorrows known,
And lift my weeping eyes.

3 The burden which I feel,
Thou only canst remove;

Display, O Lord, thy pardoning grace,
And thy unbounded love.

4 One gracious look of thine

Will ease my troubled breast;
O, let me know my sins forgiven,
And I shall then be blest.

Deliverance from deep Distress.

1 I WAITED patient for the Lord;
He bowed to hear my cry;
He saw me resting on his word,
And brought salvation nigh.

2 He raised me from a gloomy pit,
Where, mourning, long I lay,
And from my bonds released my feet, -
Deep bonds of miry clay.

3 Firm on a rock he made me stand,
And taught my cheerful tongue
To praise the wonders of his hand,

In new and thankful

song.

4 I'll spread his works of grace abroad;
The saints with joy shall hear,
And sinners learn to make my God
Their only hope and fear.

5 How many are thy thoughts of love!
Thy mercies, Lord, how great !
We have not words nor hours enough
Their numbers to repeat.

WATTS.

DODDRIDGE.

"Cleanse thou me from secret Faults."

1 SEARCHER of hearts! before thy face
I all my soul display,

And, conscious of its innate arts,
Entreat thy strict survey.

2 If, lurking in its inmost folds,
I any sin conceal,

O, let a ray of light divine
The secret guile reveal!
3 If, in these fatal fetters bound,
A wretched slave I lie,

Smite off my chains, and wake my soul
To light and liberty.

4 To humble penitence and prayer
Be gentle pity given;

Speak ample pardon to my heart,
And seal its claim to heaven.

378.

L. M. 6 L.

WESLEY'S COLL.

Imploring Forgiveness and Renewal of Heart.

1 FORGIVE us, for thy mercy's sake;
Our multitude of sins forgive;
And for thy own possession take,
And bid us to thy glory live;
Live in thy sight, and gladly prove
Our faith by our obedient love.
2 The covenant of forgiveness seal,
And all thy mighty wonders show;
Our hidden enemies expel,

And conquering them to conquer go,
Till all of pride and wrath be slain,
And not one evil thought remain.

3 O, put it in our inward parts,

The living law of perfect love;
Write the new precept on our hearts;
We shall not then from thee remove,

Who in thy glorious image shine,
Thy people, and for ever thine.