Most merciful Spirit of grace,
Relieve me again, and restore;
My spirit in holiness raise,
To fall, and to grieve thee no more. 5 If now I lament after God,
And gasp for a drop of thy love; If Jesus hath paid down his blood, To clear off my mortgage above: Come, heav'nly comforter, come, Sweet witness of mercy divine; And make me thy permanent home, And seal me eternally thine.
Affliction and distress of soul.
ENCOMPASS'D with clouds of distress,
Just ready all hope to resign,
I pant for the light of thy face.
And fear it will never be mine:
Dishearten'd with waiting so long,
I sink at thy feet with my load;
All plaintive I pour out my song,
And stretch forth my hands unto God.
2 Shine, Lord, and my terror shall cease;
The blood of atonement apply;
And lead me to Jesus for peace,
The rock that is higher than I :
Speak, Saviour, for sweet is thy voice;
Thy presence is fair to behold:
I thirst for thy Spirit, with cries
And groanings, that cannot be told.
3 If sometimes I strive, as I mourn,
My hold of the promise to keep,
The billows more fiercely return,
And plunge me again in the deep:
While harass'd and cast from thy sight,
The tempter suggests with a roar,
"The Lord hath forsaken thee quite;
Thy God will be gracious no more."
4 Yet, Lord, if thy love hath design'd
No covenant blessing for me,
Ah, tell me, how is it I find
Some sweetness in waiting for thee?
Almighty to rescue thou art;
Thy grace is my only resource;
If e'er thou art Lord of my heart,
Thy Spirit must take it by force.
IS false, thou vile accuser, go,
I see through all thy thin disguise—
Back to thy native realms below,
Thou parent of deceit and lies!
2 Think not to drive my trembling soul,
Laden with guilt to black despair :
Hast thou survey'd the sacred roll,
And found my name not written there?
3 Presumptuous thought! to fix the bound, To limit mercy's sov'reign reign!
What other happy souls have found,
I'll seek, nor shall I seek in vain.
4 I own my guilt, thy charge confess,
Nor can thy malice make it more;
Of crimes already numberless,
'Tis vain t' attempt to swell the score.
5 Set the black list before my sight,
While I remember Jesus dy'd,
Twill only urge my speedier flight,
To seek salvation at his side.
6 Low at his feet I'll cast me down,
To him reveal my grief and fear;
Nor will he spurn me from his throne,
Nor shall I ever perish there.
The benefit of divine correction.
HOW happy the sorrowful man,
Whose sorrow is sent from above,
Indulg'd with a visit of pain,
Chastis'd by omnipotent love:
The author of all his distress.
He comes, by affliction to know;
And God, he in heaven shall bless,
That ever he suffer'd below.
2 Thus, thus may I happily grieve,
And hear the intent of his rod,
The marks of adoption receive,
The strokes of a merciful God:
With nearer access to his throne,
My burden of folly confess,
The cause of my miseries own,
And cry for an answer of peace.
3 O Father of mercies, on me,
On me in affliction bestow
A pow'r of applying to thee,
A sanctify'd use of my woe;
I would in a spirit of pray'r
To all thy appointments submit ;
The pledge of my happiness bear,
And joyfully die at thy feet.
4 Then, Father, and never till then,
I all the felicity prove
Of living a moment in pain,
Of dying in Jesus's love:
A suff'rer here with my Lord,
With Jesus above I sit down,
Receive an eternal reward,
And glory obtain in a crown.
Divine protection sought.
TOW may he who from the dead
Brought the Shepherd of the sheep.
Jesus Christ, our king and head,
And our souls in safety keep!
2 May he teach us to fulfil
What is pleasing in his sight;
Perfect us in all his will,
And preserve us day and night!
3 To that dear Redeemer's praise,
Who the cov'nant seal'd with blood.
Let our hearts and voices raise
Loud thanksgivings to our God.
ARK! the herald-angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconcil'd.
2 Joyful all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumphs of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
3 Christ by highest heav'n ador'd,
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb.
4 Veil'd in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail th' incarnate Deity!
Pleas'd as man with men ť
Jesus our Immanuel here.
5 Mild He lays his glory by,
Born, that man no more may
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
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