6 But grace, unask'd, his heart subdu'd,
And all his guilt forgave;
By faith the promis'd seed he view'd,
And felt his power to save.
7 Thus we ourselves would justify,
Though we the law transgress;
Like him, unable to deny,
Unwilling to confess.
8 But when by faith the sinner sees
A pardon bought with blood;
Then he forsakes his foolish pleas,
And gladly turns to God.
1 WHEN Adam fell, he quickly lost
God's image, which he once possess'd:
See all our nature since could boast,
In Cain, his first-born son, express'd!
2 The sacrifice the Lord ordain'd
In type of the Redeemer's blood,
Self-righteous reas'ning Cain disdain'd,
And thought his own first-fruits as good.
3 Yet rage and envy fill'd his mind,
When, with a sullen downcast look,
He saw his brother favour find,
Who God's appointed method took.
4 By Cain's own hand good Abel died
Because the Lord approv'd his faith;
And, when his blood for vengeance cried,
He vainly thought to hide his death.
5 Such was the wicked murd'rer Cain,
And such by nature still are we,
Until by grace we're born again,
Malicious, blind, and proud, as he.
6 Like him the way of grace we slight,
And in our own devices trust;
Call evil good, and darkness light,
And hate and persecute the just.
7 The saints, in every age and place,
Have found his history fulfill'd:
The numbers all our thoughts surpass,
Of Abels, whom the Cains have kill'd!*
8 Thus Jesus fell-but, oh! his blood
Far better things than Abel's cries; †
Obtains his murderers' peace with God,
And gains them mansions in the skies.
III. C. Walking with God. Chap. 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?
3 What peaceful hours I once enjoy'd!
How sweet their mem❜ry 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,
6 But grace, unask'd, his heart subdu'd,
And all his guilt forgave;
By faith the promis'd seed he view'd,
And felt his power to save.
7 Thus we ourselves would justify,
Though we the law transgress;
Like him, unable to deny,
Unwilling to confess.
8 But when by faith the sinner sees
A pardon bought with blood;
Then he forsakes his foolish pleas,
And gladly turns to God.
1 WHEN Adam fell, he quickly lost
God's image, which he once possess'd:
See all our nature since could boast,
In Cain, his first-born son, express'd!
2 The sacrifice the Lord ordain'd
In type of the Redeemer's blood,
Self-righteous reas'ning Cain disdain'd,
And thought his own first-fruits as good.
3 Yet rage and envy fill'd his mind,
When, with a sullen downcast look,
He saw his brother favour find,
Who God's appointed method took.
4 By Cain's own hand good Abel died
Because the Lord approv'd his faith;
And, when his blood for vengeance cried,
He vainly thought to hide his death.
5 Such was the wicked murd'rer Cain,
And such by nature still are we,
Until by grace we're born again,
Malicious, blind, and proud, as he.
6 Like him the way of grace we slight,
And in our own devices trust;
Call evil good, and darkness light,
And hate and persecute the just.
7 The saints, in every age and place,
Have found his history fulfill'd:
The numbers all our thoughts surpass,
Of Abels, whom the Cains have kill'd!*
8 Thus Jesus fell-but, oh! his blood
Far better things than Abel's cries; †
Obtains his murderers' peace with God,
And gains them mansions in the skies.
III. C. Walking with God. Chap. 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?
3 What peaceful hours I once enjoy'd!
How sweet their mem❜ry 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.
1 By faith in Christ I walk with God,
With heaven, my journey's end, in view;
Supported by his staff and rod, *
My road is safe and pleasant too.
2 I travel through a desert wide,
Where many round me blindly stray:
But he vouchsafes to be my guide, t
And will not let me miss my way.
3 Though snares and dangers throng my path,
And earth and hell my course withstand,
I triumph over all by faith,
Guarded by his Almighty hand.
4 The wilderness affords no food,
But God for my support prepares;
Provides me every needful good,
And frees my soul from wants and cares.
5 With him sweet converse I maintain,
Great as he is, I dare be free;
I tell him all my grief and pain,
And he reveals his love to me.
6 Some cordial from his word he brings,
Whene'er my feeble spirit faints;
At once my soul revives and sings,
And yields no more to sad complaints.
+ Psalm cvii.
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