HYMN 169. C. M.

A Sinner lamenting the delay of Divine Grace.

L

ONG have I walk'd this dreary road,
Beset with darkness round;

Nor seen nor heard a smiling God,
Nor one bright moment found.

2 Others, who once did join my speech,
And mourn'd in painful lay,
Now, mounting up with rapture, stretch
To seize a heavenly day.

3 Far left behind to feel my woe,
With harden'd heart to groan,
Each pray'r, each struggle sinks me low,
Each breath repeats my moan.

4 The lengthen'd day, the gloomy night,
Draw fast the bands of grief:
Sometimes despair o'erclouds my sight,
And says, there's no relief.

5 Then conscience thunders, Sinai flames, I try again to rise;

The trial fails, and conscience blames
My pray'rs, my tears, my cries.

6 If hope perchance a moment gleams,
And says, Christ's blood was spilt;
My heart of sin beclouds the beams,
And seals my death and guilt.

7 'Tis thus perplex'd, forlorn, and lost,
I spend my weary days;

No Jesus comes, my hopes are crost,
While others sing and praise.

HYMN 170. L. M.

God's Answer to a Sinner complaining of Grace delayed.

CINNER, behold, I've heard thy groan,
I know thy heart, thy life I've known;
I've seen thy hope from grace proclaim'd,
Thy trembling fear when Sinai flam'd.
2 To me, the mighty God, attend,
In me behold the sinner's friend;
'Twas I who gave thy conscience voice,
Thou hast oppos'd by sinful choice.
3 Think not to bribe my sov'reign grace,
Nor move me by a sorrowing face;
'Tis thine own heart makes grace
delay,
And hides a pard'ning, glorious day.
4 Mov'd by thy fear, and not by love,
Thy daily pray'rs are sent above;
Thou hast not wish'd my will to meet,
Nor lain submissive at my feet.

5 The holy terms of gospel grace,
Have hid my glory from thy face;
To hearts and wills like thine oppos'd,
The door of peace is ever clos'd.

6 Should thy proud will at length submit,
With holy sorrow deeply smit,
Thy voice would be the first to say,
I'm glorious in this long delay.

7 Stay, sinner, cease my grace to chide,
Nor think thy moan such sin can hide
Delay no more, repent and live,
Or meet the death my wrath must give

HYMN 171. C. M.

Longing for Heaven.

SURE 'tis in vain to seek for bliss,

For bliss can ne'er be found, Till we arrive where Jesus is, And tread on heav'nly ground.

2 There's nothing round the spreading skies, Or on this earthly clod:

Nothing, my soul, that's worth thy joys,
Or lovely as thy God!

3 'Tis heaven on earth to taste his love,
To feel his quick'ning grace;

And all the heav'n I hope above,
Is but to see his face.

4 Why move my years in slow delay ?
And why this fear to die?

Death's but a guide that leads my way,
To a superior sky.

5 Dear Sov'reign, break these vital strings, That bind me to my clay;

Help me to rise and stretch my wings,
And mount and soar away.

HYMN 172. L. M.

A Christian passing through Death to Glory.
Thear his voice and I obey;
IS Jesus calls my soul away,

For sure his wond'rous pow'r to save,
Strangely perfumes the wasting grave.
2 My weakness. weariness, and pain,
My glorious leader can sustain,
To heal the wounds of sin and death,
He bids me look to him by faith.

3 Faith, like an anchor, through the veil, Secures a hold that cannot fail;

There, through a Saviour's cleansing blood,
Beholds a reconciled God.

4 This tott'ring frame I feel give way,
My sight decays, I lose the day;
But sure I feel a pow'r divine,
And heav'nly glories round me shine.
5 In love triumphing now I sing;
Death and the grave have lost their sting;
Adieu, corruption, sin, and pain,
With Jesus now I live and reign.

6 Oh, the bright glories of the place,
What radiant smiles from Jesu's face!
Too bright for mortal heart to bear,
'Tis heav'n itself to see and hear.

7 Strangely inspir'd I find my tongue
Can speak my feelings in my song;
And all the heav'nly armies join,
To sing Messiah all divine.

HYMN 173. L. M.

In four parts.

Death and Heaven.

PART I.

The Spirit's Farewell to the body after long
Sickness.

[OW am I held a pris'ner now,

Binds me to sorrow: all below

Is short-liv'd ease, or tiresome pain.

chain

2 When shall that wond'rous hour appear,
Which frees me from this dark abode,
To live at large, in regions where
Nor cloud nor veil shall hide my God.

3 Farewell this flesh, these ears, these eyes,
These snares and fetters of the mind,
My God! Nor let this frame arise,
Till ev'ry dust be well refin'd.

4 Blest Jesus! make my nature whole,
Mould me a body like thine own,
Then shall it better serve my soul,
In works of praise, and worlds unknown.
PART II.

The departing moment, or absent from the
Body.

5 ABSENT from flesh! O blissful thought!
What unknown joys this moment brings!
Freed from the mischief sin hath wrought
From pain and tears and all their springs.
6 Absent from flesh! illustrious day!
Surprising scene! triumphant stroke!
That rends the prison of my clay,
And I can feel my fetters broke.

7 Absent from flesh! then rise my soul !
Where feet or wings could never climb,
Beyond the heav'ns where planets roll,
Meas'ring the cares and joys of time.
8 I go where God and glory shine!
His presence makes eternal day;
My all that's mortal I resign,
For Jesus waits and points the way.

PART III.

Entrance into Paradise, or present with the
Lord.

9 AND is this heav'n? and am I there?
How short the road, how swift the flight?
I am all life, all eye, all ear;

Jesus is here--my soul's delight.