2 My humbled soul, when thou art near,

In dust and ashes lies:

How shall a sinful worm appear,
Or meet thy purer eyes?

3 I loathe myself when God I see,
And into nothing fall;
Content if thou exalted be,
And Christ be all in all.

400

The only expiation.

S. M.

PROSTRATE at Jesus' feet,

rebel lies;

And upward to the mercy-seat,
Presumes to lift his eyes.
2 Will justice frown me hence?
Stay, Lord, the vengeful storm;
Forbid it, that Omnipotence
Should crush a feeble worm.
3 If sorrow would suffice

To pay the debt I owe,

Tears should, from both my weeping eyes,

In ceaseless currents flow.

4 But tears I will not plead

To expiate my guilt;

No tears, but those which thou hast shed,No blood, but thou hast spilt.

5 Think of thy sorrows, Lord!

And all my sins forgive;

Then justice will approve the word
That bids the sinner live.

401

Knocking at the door of mercy.

ORD, at thy feet we sinners lie,
And knock at mercy's door;

With heavy heart, and downcast eye,
Thy favour we implore.

C. M.

2 Without thy grace, we sink oppress'd, Down to the gates of hell;

O give our troubled spirits rest,-
Our gloomy fears dispel.

3 'Tis mercy, mercy, now we plead ;
Let thy compassion move;

Mercy, that led thee once to bleed,
In tenderness and love.

4 In mercy, now, for Jesus' sake,
O God, our sins forgive;

Thy grace our stubborn hearts can break, And, breaking, bid us live.

402

5th P. M. 4 lines 7s.

With thee there is mercy.

SOY'RE

OV'REIGN Ruler, Lord of all,
Prostrate at thy feet I fall;
Hear, O hear, my ardent cry,-
Frown not, lest I faint and die.
2 Vilest of the sons of men,-
Worst of rebels, I have been ;
Oft abused thee to thy face,-
Trampled on thy richest grace.
3 Justly might thy vengeful dart
Pierce this bleeding, broken heart ;—
Justly might thy kindled ire

Send me to eternal fire.

;

4 But with thee is mercy found,-
Balm to heal my every wound ;
Soothe, O soothe this troubled breast,-
Give the weary wand'rer rest.

403

D

5th P. M. 4 lines 7s. Mercy for the chief of sinners. EPTH of mercy! can there be Mercy still reserved for me? Can my God his wrath forbear? Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

2 I have long withstood his grace;
Long provoked him to his face;
Would not hearken to his calls;
Grieved him by a thousand falls.
3 Now incline me to repent;
Let me now my sins lament;
Now my foul revolt deplore,
Weep, believe, and sin no more.
4 Kindled his relentings are;
Me he now delights to spare;
Cries, How shall I give thee up?—
Lets the lifted thunder drop.

5 There for me the Saviour stands; Shows his wounds and spreads his hands; God is love! I know, I feel;

Jesus weeps, and loves me still.

404

Unwearied earnestness.

C. M.

FAT

ATHER, I stretch my hands to thee ;
No other help
No other help I know:

If thou withdraw thyself from me,

Ah! whither shall I

go

?

2 What did thine only Son endure,
Before I drew my breath!
What pain, what labour, to secure
My soul from endless death!

3 O Jesus, could I this believe,
I now should feel thy power;
And all my wants thou wouldst relieve,
In this accepted hour.

4 Author of faith! to thee I lift
My weary, longing eyes:

O let me now receive that gift,—
My soul without it dies.

5 Surely thou canst not let me die;
O speak, and I shall live;
And here I will unwearied lie,
Till thou thy Spirit give.

6 How would my fainting soul rejoice, Could I but see thy face;

Now let me hear thy quick'ning voice, And taste thy pard'ning grace.

405

12th P. M. 76, 76, 78, 76.

Seeking refuge in the blood of the Lamb.

YOD of my salvation, hear,

GOD

And help me to believe;

Simply do I now draw near,
Thy blessing to receive.
Full of guilt, alas! I am,

But to thy wounds for refuge flee:
Friend of sinners, spotless Lamb,
Thy blood was shed for me.

2 Standing now as newly slain,
To thee I lift mine eye;
Balm of all my grief and pain,
Thy blood is always nigh.
Now as yesterday the same
Thou art, and wilt forever be:
Friend of sinners, spotless Lamb,
Thy blood was shed for me.

3 No good word, or work, or thought,
Bring I to buy thy grace;
Pardon I accept, unbought,-
Thy proffer I embrace.

Coming as at first I came,

To take, and not bestow on thee:

Friend of sinners, spotless Lamb,

Thy blood was shed for me.

406

Pleading His gracious name.

ORD, I approach the mercy-seat,
Where thou dost answer prayer;
There humbly fall before thy feet,-
For none can perish there.

2 Thy promise is my only plea ;
With this I venture nigh;
Thou callest burden'd souls to thee,
And such, O Lord, am I.

C. M.

3 Bow'd down beneath a load of sin,
By Satan sorely press'd;
By wars without, and fears within,
I come to thee for rest.

4 Be thou my shield and hiding-place;
That, shelter'd near thy side,

I may rejoice in Jesus' grace,

In Jesus crucified.

5 0, wondrous love!-to bleed and die,
To bear the cross and shame,

That guilty sinners, such as I,
Might plead thy gracious name.

407

The sceptre of His love.

L. M..

ESUS, whose glory's streaming rays,
Though duteous to thy high command,

Not seraphs view with open face,

But veil'd before thy presence stand:2 How shall weak eyes of flesh, weigh'd down With sin, and dim with error's night, Dare to behold thy awful throne,

Or view thy unapproached light?

3 Thy golden sceptre from above

Reach forth; lo! my whole heart I bow;

Say to my soul,-Thou art my love,-
My chosen 'midst ten thousand, thou.