THE CHRISTIAN.

JUSTIFICATION, REGENERATION, ADOPTION.

418

Peace and hope of the righteous.

L. M.

ORD, how secure and blest are they
Who feel the joys of pardoned sin!
Should storms of wrath shake earth and sea,
Their minds have heaven and peace within.
2 The day glides sweetly o'er their heads,
Made up of innocence and love;

And soft and silent as the shades,
Their nightly minutes gently move.

3 Quick

as their thoughts their joys come on, But fly not half so swift away:

Their souls are ever bright as noon,
And calm as summer evenings be.

4 How oft they look to the heavenly hills,
Where groves of living pleasure grow;
And longing hopes, and cheerful smiles,
Sit undisturbed upon their brow!

5 They

But

scorn to seek earth's golden toys, spend the day, and share the night, In numbering o'er the richer joys That Heaven prepares for their delight.

419 Filial love and longing.

G

Isaac Watts.

L. M.

REAT God, indulge my humble claim;
Be thou my hope, my joy, my rest;
glories that compose thy name
Stand all engaged to make me blest.

The

2 Thou great and good, thou just and wise, Thou art my Father and God;

And I am thine by sacred ties,

Thy son, thy servant bought with blood.

3 With heart and eyes, and lifted hands, For thee I long, to thee I look, As travelers in thirsty lands

Pant for the cooling water-brook. 4 E'en life itself, without thy love, No lasting pleasure can afford; Yea, 'twould a tiresome burden prove, If I were banished from thee, Lord. 5 I'll lift my hands, I'll raise my voice, While I have breath to pray or praise: This work shall make my heart rejoice, And fill the remnant of my days.

420

NOW

The soul's anchorage.

Isaac Watts.

L. M. 6 l.

OW I have found the ground wherein Sure my soul's anchor may remain; ; The wounds of Jesus, for my sin

Before the world's foundation slain;
Whose mercy shall unshaken stay,
When heaven and earth are fled away.
2 Father, thine everlasting grace
Our scanty thought surpasses far:
Thy heart still melts with tenderness;
Thine arms of love still open are,
Returning sinners to receive,
That mercy they may taste, and live.
3 O Love, thou bottomless abyss,
My sins are swallowed up in thee!
Covered is my unrighteousness,

Nor spot of guilt remains on me,
While Jesus' blood, through earth and skies,
Mercy, free, boundless mercy, cries.
4 By faith I plunge me in this sea;
Here is my hope, my joy, my rest;
Hither, when hell assails, I flee;

I look into my Saviour's breast: Away, sad doubt and anxious fear! Mercy is all that 's written there.

Johann A. Rothe. Tr. by J. Wesley.

421

My

Christ, the solid rock.

L. M. 6 l.

Y hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name:
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

2 When darkness seems to veil his face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil:
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
3 His oath, his covenant, and blood,
Support me in the whelming flood:
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay:
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

422

Alive in Christ.

Edward Mote.

L. M. 6 l.

A
Died he for me, who caused his pain?
For me, who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be

ND can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Saviour's blood?

That thou, my Lord, shouldst die for me?
2 'Tis mystery all! the Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the first-born seraph tries

To sound the depths of love divine;
"Tis mercy all! let earth adore:
Let angel minds inquire no more.
3 He left his Father's throne above,—
So free, so infinite his grace!-
Emptied himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;

"Tis mercy all, immense and free, For, O my God, it found out me! 4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and nature's night; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light: My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee. 5 No condemnation now I dread, Jesus, with all in him, is mine; Alive in him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach the eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ, my

own.

423

Charles Wesley.

Convicted, pardoned.

N evil long I took delight,
Unawed by shame or fear,
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopped my wild career.

2 I saw One hanging on a tree,
In agonies and blood,

Who fixed his languid eyes on me,
As near his cross I stood.

3 Sure never till my latest breath

Can I forget that look:

C. M.

It seemed to charge me with his death,
Though not a word he spoke.

4 My conscience felt and owned the guilt,
And plunged me in despair;
I saw my sins his blood had spilt,
And helped to nail him there.

5 Alas! I knew not what I did!
But now my tears are vain:

Where shall my trembling soul be hid?
For I the Lord have slain!

6 A second look he gave, which said,
"I freely all forgive;

This blood is for thy ransom paid;
I die that thou mayst live."

7 Thus, while his death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue,

Such is the mystery of grace,
It seals my pardon too.

John Newton.

C. M.

424 The earnest of redemption. WHY should the children of a King

Go mourning all their days?

Great Comforter, descend and bring
The tokens of thy grace.

2 Dost thou not dwell in all thy saints,
And seal the heirs of heaven?
When wilt thou banish my complaints,
And show my sins forgiven?

3 Assure my conscience of her part
In the Redeemer's blood;
And bear thy witness with my heart,
That I am born of God.

4

Thou art the earnest of his love,
The pledge of joys to come;

May thy blest wings, celestial Dove,
Safely convey me home.

4 25

M

The blood of sprinkling.

Isaac Watts.

Y God, my God, to thee I cry ;
Thee only would I know;

Thy purifying blood apply,

2

And wash me white as snow.

C. M.

Touch me, and make the leper clean;
Purge my iniquity:

less thou wash my soul from sin,
I have no part in thee.