179

8. M.

Now the accepted Time.

ALL yesterday is gone!
To-morrow's not our own;
O sinner, come, without delay-
Come, bow before the throne!
2 Oh hear his voice to-day,

And harden not your heart:
To-morrow, with a frown, he may
Pronounce the word-depart.

180

C. M.

Pardon and Sanctification offered.

IN vain we lavish out our lives

To gather empty wind;

The choicest blessings earth can yield
Will starve a hungry mind.

2 But God can every want supply,
And fill our hearts with peace:
He gives by covenant, and by oath,
The riches of his grace.

3 Come-and he'll cleanse our spotted souls,
And wash away our stains
In that dear fountain, which his Son
Poured from his dying veins.

4 There shall his sacred Spirit dwell,
And deep engrave his law;
And every motion of our souls
To swift obedience draw.

5 Thus will he pour salvation down,
And we shall render praise

We, the dear people of his love,
And he, our God of grace.

181

C. M.

God's gracious Call to Sinners.

LET us adore the grace that seeks
To draw our hearts above:
For, lo! the great Jehovah speaks,
And every word is love.

2 Lord, help us now to seek thy face,
By Christ, the living way;

And praise thee for this hour of grace
Through an eternal day!

RETURN, O wanderer-now return!
And seek thy Father's face!
Those new desires, which in thee burn,
Were kindled by his grace.

2 Return, O wanderer-now return!
He hears thy humble sigh:
He sees thy softened spirit mourn,
When no one else is nigh.

3 Return, O wanderer-now return!
Thy Saviour bids thee live:
Go to his feet-and grateful learn
How freely he'll forgive.

4 Return, O wanderer-now return!
And wipe the falling tear:

Thy Father calls-no longer mourn! "Tis love invites thee near.

THUS saith the wisdom of the Lord,
Blest is the man that hears my word;
Keeps daily watch before my gates,
And at my feet for mercy waits.

2 The soul that seeks me shall obtain Immortal wealth, and heavenly gain; Immortal life is his reward,

Life, and the favor of the Lord.

184

7s.

Sinners urged to accept the Invitation. YE, who in his courts are found, Listening to the joyful sound, Lost and helpless as ye are, Sons of sorrow, sin, and care, Glorify the King of kings, Take the peace the gospel brings. 2 Turn to Christ your longing eyes, View this bleeding sacrifice; See, in him, your sins forgiven, Pardon, holiness, and heaven: Glorify the King of kings,

Take the peace the gospel brings.

185

78

Expostulation with Sinners.

SINNERS, turn-why will ye die ? God, your Maker, asks you why: God, who did your being give, Made you with himself to live. 2 Sinners, turn-why will ye die? God, your Saviour, asks you why: He, who did your souls retrieve, He who died, that you might live. 3 Will you let him die in vain? Crucify your Lord again? Why-ye ransomed sinners-why Will ye slight his grace, and die?

4 Sinners, turn-why will ye die?
God, the Spirit, asks you why:
He who all your lives hath strove,
Wooed you to embrace his love;-
5 Will ye not his grace receive?
Will ye still refuse to live?
Oh! ye dying sinners, why-
Why will you forever die?

186

L. M.

Expostulation with Sinners.

SINNER, O why so thoughtless grown?
Why in such fearful haste to die?
Why speed thy flight to worlds unknown,
Regardless of thy destiny?

2 Wilt thou defy the wrath of God,
Led on by sin's delusive dreams?
Madly despise the Saviour's blood,
And force thy passage to the flames?
3 Sinner, O lift thy thoughts above,
And hear the Lord of life unfold
The glories of his dying love-
Forever telling, yet untold!

YE, who despise the Saviour's grace,
And scorn his gospel, here,
How can you meet his angry face,
Or at his bar appear?

2 When every earthly hope shall fail,
When storms of wrath are nigh;
How will your souls affrighted quail
Beneath his burning eye!

3 Why will you madly rush on death, And force your way to wo?

Why tempt the God, that holds your breath, To strike the fatal blow.

4 Turn, guilty sinners, quickly turn;
Oh, come to Jesus now!

Ere the fierce flames around you burn,
To your Redeemer bow.

188

C. M.

Exhortation to Repentance.

REPENT! the voice celestial cries,
No longer dare delay:

The soul that scorns the mandate dies,
And meets a fiery day.

2 No more the sovereign eye of God
O'erlooks the crimes of men;
His heralds now are sent abroad
To warn the world of sin.

3 O sinners, in his presence bow,
And all your guilt confess;
Accept the offered Saviour now,
Nor trifle with his grace,

4 Soon will the awful trumpet sound
And call you to his bar;

His mercy knows th' appointed bound,
And yields to justice there.

189

7s, 5s & 49.

Sinners warned by the Destruction of Sodom. HASTE thee, sinner, haste away,

Vengeance is at hand!

From destruction quickly flee,

Flee at God's command!
No more inquire:
Lo! the city's doom is sealed;