3 Still sure to me thy promise stands,

And ever must abide:
Behold it written on thy hands,
And graven in thy side.

4 To this, this only will I cleave;
Thy word is all my plea;

That word is truth, and I believe :—
Have mercy, Lord, on me.

392

Prisoner of hope.

C. M.

L'

ET the redeem'd give thanks and praise
To a forgiving God;

My feeble voice I cannot raise,

Till wash'd in Jesus' blood:

2 Till, at thy coming from above,
My mountain sin depart,
And fear give place to filial love,
And peace o'erflow my heart.

3 Pris'ner of hope, I still attend
The' appearance of my Lord,

These endless doubts and fears to end,
And speak my soul restored:-

4 Restored by reconciling grace;
With present pardon blest;
And fitted by true holiness
For my eternal rest.

5 The peace which man can ne'er conceive, The love and joy unknown,

Now, Father, to thy servant give,

And claim me for thine own.

6 My God, in Jesus pacified,
My God, thyself declare;
And draw me to his open side,
And plunge the sinner there.

393

Deprecating the wrath to come.

THOU that wouldst not have
One wretched sinner die;

Who diedst thyself, my soul to save
From endless misery:-
Show me the way to shun

Thy dreadful wrath severe;

S. M.

That when thou comest on thy throne,
I may with joy appear.

2 Thou art thyself the Way;
Thyself in me reveal;

So shall I spend my life's short day,
Obedient to thy will:

So shall I love my God,

Because he first loved me;

And praise thee in 'thy bright abode,
To all eternity.

394

The Sun of righteousness.

SUN of righteousness, arise
With healing in thy wing;

To my diseased, my fainting soul,
Life and salvation bring.

C. M.

2 These clouds of pride and sin dispel, By thy all-piercing beam:

Lighten mine eyes with faith; my heart
With holy hope inflame.

3 My mind, by thy all-quick'ning power,
From low desires set free;
Unite my scatter'd thoughts, and fix
My love entire on thee.

4 Father, thy long-lost son receive;
Saviour, thy purchase own;

Blest Comforter, with peace and joy
Thy new-made creature crown.

5 Eternal, undivided Lord,
Co-equal One in Three,-

On thee all faith, all hope be placed;
All love be paid to thee.

395

6th P. M. 6 lines 7s.

Help, or I perish.

Y thy birth, and by thy tears;
By thy human griefs and fears;
By thy conflict in the hour
Of the subtle tempter's power,-
Saviour, look with pitying eye;
Saviour, help me, or I die.

2 By the tenderness that wept
O'er the grave where Laz'rus slept;
By the bitter tears that flow'd
Over Salem's lost abode,-
Saviour, look with pitying eye;
Saviour, help me, or I die.

3 By thy lonely hour of prayer;
By the fearful conflict there;
By thy cross and dying cries;
By thy one great sacrifice,-
Saviour, look with pitying eye;
Saviour, help me, or I die.

4 By thy triumph o'er the grave;
By thy power the lost to save;
By thy high, majestic throne;
By the empire all thine own,-
Saviour, look with pitying eye;
Saviour, help me, or I die.

396

Humble and earnest entreaties.

C. M.

HEAR, gracious God, my humble prayer;

To thee I breathe my sighs;

When will the cheering morn appear
And when my joys arise?

?

2 My God! O could I make the claim-
My Father, and my Friend;
And call thee mine, by every name
On which thy saints depend;---

3 By every name of power and love,
I would thy grace entreat;

Nor should my humble hopes remove,
Nor leave thy mercy-seat.

4 Yet, though my soul in darkness mourns,
Thy word is all my stay;
Here would I rest till light returns:
Thy presence makes my day.

5 Speak, Lord, and bid celestial peace
Relieve my aching heart;

O make my heavy sorrows cease,
And all the gloom depart.

6 Then shall my drooping spirit rise,
And bless thy healing rays;

And change these deep, complaining sighs, For songs of sacred praise.

397

Humble confession.

N sorrow I lament,

Before thy feet, my God,

My passion, pride, and discontent,-
My vile ingratitude.

2 Ne'er was a heart more base

And false than mine has been; More faithless to its promises,More prone to every sin.

S. M.

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

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

Reveal, great God, thy mighty arm,
And haste to rescue me.

398

Condemned, but pleading the promises.

SHOW pity, Lord, O Lord, forgive;
a repenting rebel live.

Are not thy mercies large and free?
May not a sinner trust in thee?

L. M.

2 My crimes are great, but don't surpass
The power and glory of thy grace;
Great God, thy nature hath no bound,-
So let thy pard'ning love be found.
3 0 wash my soul from every sin,
And make my guilty conscience clean;
Here on my heart the burden lies,
And past offences pain my eyes.

4 My lips with shame my sins confess,
Against thy law, against thy grace ;
Lord, should thy judgments grow severe,
I am condemn'd, but thou art clear.

5 Should sudden vengeance seize my breath,
I must pronounce thee just, in death;
And if my soul were sent to hell,
Thy righteous law approves it well.
6 Yet save a trembling sinner, Lord,
Whose hope, still hov'ring round thy word,
Would light on some sweet promise there,-
Some sure support against despair.

399

Self loathed; Christ exalted. COULD I lose myself in thee, Thy depth of mercy prove,Thou vast, unfathomable sea

Of unexhausted love.

C. M.