Thyself hast bid me seek thy face;
Thyself hast said, return.
3 And shall my guilty fears prevail
To drive me from thy feet?
Thy word of promise cannot fail,
My tow'r of safe retreat.
4 Absent from Thee, my guide, my light,
Without one cheering ray;
Through dangers, fears, and gloomy night
How desolate my way!
5 O shine on this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy shine;
And let thy Spirit's voice impart
A taste of joy divine.
AVIOUR, canst thou love a traitor?
Canst thou love a child of wrath?
Can a hell-deserving creature
Be the purchase of thy death?
2 Is thy blood so efficacious,
As to make my nature clean?
Is thy sacrifice so precious,
As to free me from my sin?
3 Sin on ev'ry hand surrounds me,
No acquittance can I hear;
Pangs of unbelief confound me,
Oh! my grief I cannot bear.
4 Here then is my resolution,
At thy dearest feet to fall;
Here I'll meet with condemnation,
Or a freedom from my thrall.
5 Now deny thy grace and mercy,
If thou canst, to wretched me;
Lay aside thy love and pity,
If thou canst, and let me die.
6 If I meet with condemnation,
Justly I deserve the same;
If I meet with free salvation,
I will magnify thy name.
Power of the Redeemer's looks.
JESUS, let thy pitying eye
Call back a wand'ring sheep:
False to thee like Peter, I
Would fain like Peter weep:
Let me be by grace restor'd,
On me be all long-suff'ring shown,
Turn, and look upon me, Lord,
And break my heart of stone!
2 Saviour! Prince! enthron'd above,
Repentance to impart,
Give me through thy dying love,
The humble contrite heart:
Give me what I've long implor'd,
A portion of thy love unknown-
Turn, &c.
3 See me, Saviour, from above,
Nor suffer me to die :
Life, and happiness, and love,
Drop from thy gracious eye:
Speak the reconciling word,
And let thy mercy melt me down-
Turn, &c.
JESUS, Friend of sinners, hear
A feeble creature pray :
debt of sin set clear
For I have nought to pay. Speak, O speak my kind release; A poor backsliding soul restore: Love me freely, seal my peace, And bid me weep no more.
2 Though my sins as mountains rise, And swell, and reach to heav'n, Mercy is above the skies,
And I shall stand forgiv'n: Mighty is my guilt's increase,
But greater is thy mercy's store! Love me freely, &c.
3 From th' oppressive sense of sin
My struggling spirit free:
Blood and righteousness divine
Can rescue even me!
Holy Spirit shed thy grace,
And let me feel the soft'ning show'r:
Love me freely, seal my peace.
And bid me weep no more.
In distress of Soul.
JESU, lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the billows near me roll,
While the tempest still is high:
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide,
Oh receive my soul at last!
2 Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, Oh! leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me:
All my trust on Thee is stay'd,
All mine help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head
With the shadow of thy wing.
3 Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
Boundless love in Thee I find:
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name,
I am all unrighteousness:
Vile and full of sin I am,
Thou art full of truth and grace,
4 Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
Grace to pardon all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound,
Make and keep me pure within:
Thou of life the fountain art,
Freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity.
JAY, I cannot let Thee go,
Till a blessing Thou bestow;
Do not turn away Thy face,
Mine's an urgent, pressing case.
2 Dost Thou ask me, who I am?
Ah, my Lord, Thou know'st my name !
Yet the question gives a plea,
To support my suit with Thee.
3 Thou didst once a wretch behold,
In rebellion blindly bold;
Scorn thy grace, thy pow'r defy,
That poor rebel, Lord, was I.
4 Once a sinner near despair,
Sought thy mercy-seat by pray'r;
Mercy heard and set him free,
Lord, that mercy came to me..
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