Through ev'ry year's revolving round, Thy goodness is the same.
2 On us, all worthless as we are, It wondrous mercy pours;
o Sure as the heaven's establish'd course, And plenteous as the showers.
e 3 Inconstant service we repay, And treach'rous vows renew; False as the morning's scatt'ring cloud, And transient as the dew.-
p 4 In flowing tears our guilt we mourn, And loud implore thy grace, To bear our feeble footsteps on, In all thy righteous ways.
0.5 Arm❜d with this energy divine, Our souls shall steadfast move; o And with increasing transports press On to thy courts above.
-6 So by thy power the morning sun Pursues his radiant way;
o Brightens each moment in his race, And shines to perfect day.
HYMN 52. C. M. Canterbury. [b]
Oh that I were as in months past. Job xxix, 2.
WEET was the time, when first I felt The Saviour's pard'ning blood,
Apply'd to cleanse my soul from guilt, And bring me home to God.
o 2 Soon as the morn the light reveal'd, His praises tun'd my tongue;
And when the ev'ning shades prevail'd, His love was all my song.
-3 (In vain the tempter spread his wiles; The world no more could charm;
⚫ I liv'd upon my Saviour's smiles,
And lean'd upon his arm.)
o 4 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.
e 5 But now-when ev'ning shade prevails, My soul in darkness mourns:
And when the morn the light reveals, No light to me returns.
6 My prayers are now a chatt'ring noise, For Jesus hides his face;
I read the promise meets my eyes- But will not reach my case. -7 Rise, Lord, and help me to prevail- O make my soul thy care;
o I know thy mercy cannot fail; Let me that mercy share.
HYMN 53. 8s. Bethany. [b] Faith fainting.
ENCOMPASS'D with clouds of distress,
Just ready all hope to resign,
I pant for the light of thy face, And fear it will never be mine: p Dishearten'd with waiting so long, I sink at thy feet with my load; All-plaintive I pour out my song, And stretch forth my hands unto God. -2 Shine, Lord, and my terrour shall cease The blood of atonement apply;
And lead me to Jesus for peace,— The rock that is higher than I: o Speak, Saviour, for sweet is thy voice; Thy presence is fair to behold; -Attend to my sorrows and cries,- e My groanings that cannot be told. -3 If sometimes I strive, as I mourn, My hold on thy promise to keep; o The billows more fiercely return, And plunge me again in the deep. -While harass'd and cast from thy sight, The tempter suggests, with a roar, d 'The Lord has forsaken thee quite; "Thy God will be gracious no more." e 4 Yet, Lord, if thy love has design'd No covenant blessing for me, Ah, tell me, how is it I find
Some pleasure in waiting for thee?
o Almighty to rescue thou art;
Thy grace is my shield and my tower: o Come, succour and gladden my heart,
Let this be the day of thy power. Rippon's Col. HYMN 54. 7s. Fairfax. [b]
1'IS a point I long to know,
'TIS Oft it causes anxious thought.
e Do I love the Lord, or no? Am I his, or am I not?
2 If I love, why am I thus ? Why this dull, this lifeless frame? Hardly, sure, can they be worse, Who have never heard his name. 3 Could my heart so hard remain, Prayer a task and burden prove- Ev'ry trifle give me pain- If I knew a Saviour's love? e 4 When I turn my eyes within, All is dark, and vain, and wild; Fill'd with unbelief and sin- Can I deem myself a child? 5 If I pray, or hear, or read, Sin is mix'd with all I do; d You, who love the Lord indeed, Tell me is it so with you? o 6 Yet I mourn my stubborn will, Find my sin a grief and thrall; Should I grieve for what I feel, If I did not love at all!
7 Could I joy his saints to meet, Choose the ways I once abhorr'd- Find, at times, the promise sweet, If I did not love the Lord?
-8 Lord, decide the doubtful case! Thou, who art thy people's sun, Shine upon thy work of grace, If it be indeed begun.
9 Let me love thee more and more, If I love at all, I pray ; If I have not lov'd before, Help me to begin to-day.
HYMN 55. 8s. Consolation. [*]
The Holy Spirit addressed under Darkness. ESCEND, Holy Spirit, the Dove, And visit a sorrowful breast; e My burden of guilt to remove, And bring me assurance and rest; -Thou only hast power to relieve A sinner o'erwhelm'd with his load; The sense of redemption to give, And sprinkle his heart with the blood. 2 With me, if of old thou hast strove, And kindly withheld me from sin; Resolv'd, by the strength of thy love My worthless affections to win; The work of thy mercy revive, Invincible mercy exert,
And keep my weak graces alive, And set up thy rest in my heart. 3 If, when I have put thee to grief, And madly to folly return'd, Thy goodness has been my relief, And lifted me up as I mourn'd; O Spirit of pity and grace, Relieve me again and restore; My spirit in holiness raise,
To fall, and to grieve thee, no more. e 4 If now I lament after God,
And pant for a taste of his lovee If Jesus, who pour'd out his blood, Obtain'd me a mansion above;o Come, heavenly Comforter, come, Sweet witness of mercy divine! o And make me thy permanent home, And seal me eternally thine.
Rippon. HYMN 56. L. M. Sicilian. [b*]
Prayer answered by Crosses,
ASK'D the Lord that I might grow In faith, and love, and every grace; Might more of his salvation know, And seek more earnestly his face. 2 'Twas he who taught me thus to pray, And he, I trust, has answer'd prayer;
But it has been in such a way, As almost drove me to despair.
3 I hop'd that in some favour'd hour, At once he'd answer my request; And by his love's constraining power, Subdue my sins, and give me rest. e 4 Instead of this, he made me feel The hidden evils of my heart; And let the angry powers of hell Assault my soul in ev'ry part.
a 5 Yea, more-with his own hand he seem'd Intent to aggravate my wo;
Cross'd all the fair designs I schem❜d, Blasted my gourds, and laid me low. e 6 Lord, why is this? I trembling cry'd, Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death? d "Tis in this way (the Lord reply'd,) 'I answer prayer for grace and faith. 7 These inward trials I employ, 'From self and pride to set thee free, 'And break thy schemes of earthly joy, "That thou may'st seek thy all in me.' Newton.
HYMN 57. L. M. Pleyel's. [*] Inconstancy lamented.
1 DEAR Jesus, when, when shall it be,
That I no more shall break with thee?
When will this war of passion cease, And I enjoy a lasting peace?
e 2 Here I repent, and sin again,
Sometimes revive, sometimes am slain; Slain with the same malignant dart, Which, oh! too often wounds my heart. -3 When, gracious Lord, when shall it be, That I shall find my all in thee
o The fulness of thy promise prove,
And feast on thine eternal love? Dorrington.
HYMN 58. L. M. Bath. [b*]
Conflict between Sin and Holiness. Gal. v, 17.
VHAT jarring natures dwell within- Imperfect grace, remaining sin!
« PreviousContinue » |