5 "Perhaps he will admit my plea,
Perhaps will hear my prayer;
But if I perish, I will pray,
And perish only there.

6 "I can but perish if I go,
I am resolved to try;
For if I stay away, I know
I must for ever die."

65

CONTRITION IN VIEW OF THE CROSS. L. M. D.

FAST

AST flow, my tears, the cause is great, This tribute claims an injured Friend; One whom I long pursued with hate, While he would love me to the end. When justice frowned above my head, And death its terrors round me spread, He interposed, the wounds he bore, And bade me live to die no more.

2 Fast flow, my tears, yet faster flow,
Streams copious as yon purple tide:
Who was it gave the deadly blow?
Who urged the hand that pierced his side?
My soul, thy Victim here behold;
What pangs, what agonies untold,
While justice, armed with power divine,
Pours on his head what's due to thine!

3 Fast, and yet faster flow, my tears,
Now break this heart, and drown these eyes;
His visage marred towards heaven he rears,
And pleading for his murderers, dies!
My grief no measure knows, nor end,
Till he appears, the sinner's Friend,
And gives me in some happy hour,
To feel the risen Saviour's power.

66

SINNERS PLEADING FOR MERCY. C. M.

LORD, at thy feet we sinners lie,

And knock at mercy's door;

With heavy heart and downcast eye,
Thy favour we implore.

2 Without thy grace, we sink oppressed
Down to the gates of hell;
O give our troubled spirits rest,
Our gloomy fears dispel.

3 'Tis mercy, mercy we implore;
O may thy bowels move:
Thy grace is an exhaustless store,
And thou thyself art love.

4 In mercy now, for Jesus' sake,
Our many sins forgive:

Thy grace our rocky hearts can break,
And breaking soon relieve.

5 Thus melt us down, thus make us bend,

And thy dominion own;

Nor let a rival more pretend

To repossess thy throne.

67 JOY IN HEAVEN OVER REPENTING SINNERS. L. M. WHO can describe the joys that rise

Through all the courts of paradise,

To see a prodigal return,

To see an heir of glory born?

2 With joy the Father doth approve
The fruit of his eternal love;

The Son with joy looks down and sees
The purchase of his agonies.

3 The Spirit takes delight to view
The holy soul he formed anew;
And saints and angels join to sing
The growing empire of their King.

68 JOY OVER ONE SINNER THAT REPENTETH. C. M.

! HOW divine, how sweet the joy,
When but one sinner turns,

And with an humble, broken heart,

His sins and errors mourns!

2 Pleased with the news the saints below,
In songs their tongues employ;
Beyond the skies the tidings go,
And heaven is filled with joy.

3 Well pleased the Father sees and hears
The conscious sinner's moan;

Jesus receives him in his arms,
And claims him for his own.

4 Nor angels can their joys contain,
But kindle with new fire;

"The sinner lost is found," they sing,
And strike the sounding lyre.

69

PRAISE FOR FORGIVENESS.

FORGIVENESS! 'tis a joyful sound

To guilty rebels doomed to die: Publish the bliss the world around; Ye seraphs, shout it from the sky. 2 'Tis the rich gift of love divine, 'Tis full, effacing every crime; Unbounded shall its glories shine, And feel no change by changing time. 3 For this stupendous love of heaven, What grateful honours shall we show? Where much transgression is forgiven, Let love with equal ardour glow.

L. M.

4 By this inspired, let all our days
With every heavenly grace be crowned;
Let truth and goodness, prayer and praise,
In all abide, in all abound.

70

INDWELLING SIN LAMENTED.

WITH

ITH tears of anguish I lament,
Here at thy feet, my God,

My passion, pride and discontent,
And vile ingratitude.

2 Sure there was ne'er a heart so base,
So false as mine has been;
So faithless to its promises,

So prone to every sin.

3 How long, dear Saviour, shall I feel
These struggles in my breast?
When wilt thou bow my stubborn will,
And give my conscience rest?

C. M.

4 Break, sovereign grace, O break the charm, And set the captive free:

71

Reveal, almighty God, thine arm,
And haste to rescue me.

SEEKING PARDON.

LORD, at thy feet I prostrate fall,

L. M.

Oppressed with fears to thee I call;

Reveal thy pardoning love to me,
And set my captive spirit free.

2 Hast thou not said, "Seek ye my face?"
The invitation I embrace;

I'll seek thy face; thy Spirit give;
O let me see thy face, and live.

3 I'll wait, perhaps my Lord may come:
If back I turn, hell is my doom;
And begging, in his way I'll lie,
Till the sweet hour he passes by.

4 I'll seek his face with cries and tears,
With secret sighs and fervent prayers;
And if not heard, I'll waiting sit,
And perish at my Saviour's feet.

5 But canst thou, Lord, see all my pain,
And bid me seek thy face in vain?
Thou wilt not, canst not, me deceive,
The soul that seeks thy face shall live.
6" Then venture, O my soul, in prayer,
For none can perish pleading here;
The blood of Christ, that crimson sea,
Shall wash my load of guilt away."

72

REPENTANCE FOR BACKSLIDING. C. M.
THOU, whose tender mercy hears
Contrition's humble sigh;

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

2 See, low before thy throne of grace,
A wretched wanderer mourn ;
Hast thou not bid me seek thy face?
Hast thou not said-Return?

3 And shall my guilty fears prevail
To drive me from thy feet?
O let not this dear refuge fail,
This only 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 0! shine on this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy shine!
And let thy healing voice impart
A taste of joys divine.

73

SOVE

REPENTANCE THROUGH GRACE.

OVEREIGN grace hath power alone,
To subdue a heart of stone:
And the moment grace is felt,
Then the hardest heart will melt.

7 8.