2 Soon as the morn the light reveal'd,
His praises tuned my tongue;
And when the evening shades prevail'd,
His love was all my song.

3 In prayer my soul drew near the Lord,
And saw his glory shine;

And when I read his holy word,

I call'd each promise mine.

4 But now, when evening shade prevails,
My soul in darkness mourns;

And when the morn the light reveals,
No light to me returns.

5 Rise, Lord, and help me to prevail;
O make my soul thy care;

I know thy mercy cannot fail ;-
Let me that mercy share.

871

1st P. M. 6 lines 8s.

Heal my backslidings.

JESUS, full of truth and grace,—
More full of grace than I of sin,-
Yet once again I seek thy face;
Open thine arms and take me in!
And freely my backslidings heal,
And love the faithless sinner still.

2 Thou know'st the way to bring me back,—
My fallen spirit to restore;
O! for thy truth and mercy's sake,
Forgive, and bid me sin no more :
The ruins of my soul repair,

And make my heart a house of prayer.
3 Ah, give me, Lord, the tender heart,
That trembles at the' approach of sin;
A godly fear of sin impart;

Implant and root it deep within,
That I may dread thy gracious power,
And never dare to' offend thee more.

872

0

Restore my peace.

JESUS! full of grace,

To thee I make my moan:
Let me again behold thy face-
Call home thy banish'd one.
2 Again my pardon seal,
Again my soul restore,
And freely my backslidings heal,
And bid me sin no more.

3 Wilt thou not bid me rise?
Speak, and my soul shall live;
Forgive, my gasping spirit cries,-
Abundantly forgive.

4 Thine utmost mercy show;
Say to my drooping soul,-
In peace and full assurance go;
Thy faith hath made thee whole.

873

0

Loss of first love.

THAT I were as heretofore,
When, warm in my first love,
I only lived my God to' adore,
And seek the things above.
2 Upon my head his candle shone,
And, lavish of his grace,

With cords of love he drew me on,
And half unveil'd his face.

3 Far, far above all earthly things
Triumphantly I rode;

I soar'd to heaven on eagles' wings,
And found, and talk'd with God.

S. M.

C. M.

4 Where am I now? from what a height Of happiness cast down!

The glory swallow'd up in night,
And faded is the crown.

5 O God, thou art my home, my rest,
For which I sigh in pain;
How shall I 'scape into thy breast?
My Eden how regain?

874

0

God's absence deprecated.

THOU, whose mercy hears
Contrition's humble sigh;

S. M.

Whose hand, indulgent, wipes the tears
From sorrow's weeping eye;-
2 See, at thy throne of grace,
A wretched wand'rer mourn :
Hast thou not bid me seek thy face?
Hast thou not said,-Return?

3 Shall guilty fears prevail

To drive me from thy feet?
O let not this last refuge fail,-
This only safe retreat.

4 Absent from thee, my Light,
Without one cheering ray,-
Through dangers, fears, and gloomy night,
How desolate my way!

5 On this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy shine;
And let thy voice again impart
A taste of joy divine.

875

12th P. M. 76, 76, 78, 76. The deceitfulness of sin.

JESUS, friend of sinners, hear

Yet once again, I pray;
From my debt of sin set clear,
For I have naught 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.

2 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, seal my peace,
And bid me sin no more.
3 Sin's deceitfulness hath spread
A hardness o'er my heart;
But if thou thy Spirit shed,
The stony shall depart:
Shed thy love, thy tenderness,

And let me feel thy soft'ning power;

Love me freely, seal my peace,

And bid me sin no more.

876

3d P. M. 4 6s & 2 8s.

Seeking restoration.

THERE is the Saviour now,

W whose smiles I once possess'd?

Till he return, I bow,

By heavy grief oppress'd:

My days of happiness are gone,
And I am left to weep alone.

2 Where can the mourner go,
And tell his tale of grief?
Ah, who can soothe his wo,
Ah, who can give relief?
Earth cannot heal the wounded breast,
Or give the troubled conscience rest.

3 Jesus, thy smiles impart;

My gracious Lord, return,
Bind up my broken heart,

And bid me cease to mourn:

Then shall this night of sorrow flee,

And peace and heaven be found in thee.

877

HOW

10th P. M. 8 lines 8s.

Forgiveness implored.

OW shall a lost sinner in pain, Recover his forfeited peace? When brought into bondage again, What hope of a second release? Will mercy itself be so kind

To spare a backslider like me? And O, can I possibly find

Such plenteous redemption in thee? 2 O Jesus, of thee I inquire,

If still thou art able to save,The brand to pluck out of the fire, And ransom my soul from the grave? The help of thy Spirit restore;

O, show me the life-giving blood; And pardon a sinner once more, And bring me again unto God.

878

Vain repentances.

C. M.

TIMES without number have I pray'd,

TIMES

This only once forgive;

Relapsing when thy hand was stay'd,

And suffer'd me to live:

2 Yet now the kingdom of thy peace,
Lord, to my heart restore;

Forgive my vain repentances,
And bid me sin no more.

879

1st P. M. 6 lines 8s.

Resolution to return.

VES, from this instant, now, I will

YES,

To my

offended Father cry;

My base ingratitude I feel;
Vilest of all thy children, I;
Not worthy to be call'd thy son;
Yet will I thee my Father own.