2

The Backslider.

Yet now, Thou know'st, I fear,
I fear to ask Thy grace;

So often have I, Lord, drawn near,
And mock'd Thee to Thy face:

With all pollutions stain'd,

Thy hallow'd courts I trod,

Thy name and temple I profaned,

And dared to call Thee God.

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Thee with my heart I never knew,

My heart was full of sin:

My own desire pursued;

And still a den of thieves I made

The hallow'd house of God:

The worship He approves,

To Him I would not pay ;
My selfish ends, and creature-loves,

Had stole my heart away.

Spoke to my soul a flattering peace,

And put out mine own eyes:

In fig-leaves I appear'd,

Nor with my form would part ;

But still retain'd a conscience sear’d,
An hard, deceitful heart.

I long appear'd in sight;

By self and Satan taught to paint

My tomb, my nature, white:

The Pharisee within

Still undisturb'd remain'd;

The strong man, arm'd with guilt of sin,

Safe in his palace reign'd.

In my behalf came down ;

Jesus Himself the stronger show'd,

And claim'd me for His own:

My spirit He alarm'd,

And brought into distress;

He shook and bound the strong man, arm'd

In his self-righteousness.

My form without the power; The sin-convincing Spirit blew,

And blasted every flower :

My mouth was stopp'd, and shame
Cover'd my guilty face;

I fell on the Atoning Lamb,
And I was saved by grace.

I

The Backslider.

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PART II.

YET SOOn my wretched heart
To folly turn'd again.

How could I, Lord, from Thee depart,
And make Thy mercy vain?

'Twas pride my soul betray'd;

I lost my poverty,

An idol of Thy gifts I made,

And loved them more than Thee.

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In which my soul did shine,

Dazzled my eyes; Thy glorious dress

I fondly counted mine:

With sacrilegious boast

I spread mine own renown,

And in Thy beauty put my trust,

And call'd it all my own.

I thought not of my God,

Nor call'd to mind the day

When naked, foul, and in my blood,

And loathed of all, I lay:

None cast a pitying eye,

None could assistance give,

Till Jesus graciously pass'd by,

And bade the sinner live.

So soon return to sin?

How weak my heart that could submit,

And let the mischief in!

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I fell, alas! through pride;
I needed not Thy blood,
As when I felt it first, and cried,
"Thou art my Lord, my God!"

O that I once again

"My Lord, my God" could cry! Dost Thou not on my sin and pain Still cast a pitying eye?

Thy mercy still is free;
For aggravated guilt,

For sinners foul and black as me

Thy precious blood was spilt.

Thou seest me lost in shame,
But Thou canst still forgive;

Polluted in

my blood I am,

But Thou canst bid me live.

O, speak the gracious word,

Thy mercy let me prove;
Stand still, and look upon me, Lord,

Make this the time of love.

Spread over me Thy skirt, and hide

My nakedness and sin :

Impute Thy righteousness,

Wash away all my blood,

Adorn me now with every grace,

And feed, and fill with God.

A Prayer for Restoring Grace.

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A PRAYER FOR RESTORING GRACE.

I

JESU, Friend of sinners, hear,

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Yet once again I pray ;

From my debt of sin set clear,

For I have nought to pay :
Speak, O, speak the kind release,
A poor, backsliding soul restore;
Love me freely, seal my peace,
And bid me sin no more.

For my selfishness and pride,

Thou hast withdrawn Thy grace ;

Left me long to wander wide,

An outcast from Thy face;

But I now my sins confess,

And mercy, mercy I implore:

Love me freely, &c.

Though my sins as mountains rise,

And swell and reach to heaven,
Mercy is above the skies,

I may be still forgiven :
Infinite my sins' increase,

But greater is Thy mercy's store:

Love me freely, &c.

Sin's deceitfulness hath spread

An hardness o'er my heart;
But if Thou Thy Spirit shed,
The stony shall depart :

Shed Thy love, Thy tenderness,
And let me feel the softening power :
Love me freely, &c.