Page images
PDF
EPUB

315. C. M. Dr. Doddridge.

Sinners called to Repentance. Acts xvii. 3

1

REPENT, the voice celestial cries,

No longer dare delay;

The wretch that scorns the mandate dies,
And meets a fiery day.

2 No more the sov'reign eye of God
O'erlooks the crimes of men:
His heralds are dispatch'd abroad
To warn the world of sin.

3 The summons reach through all the earth;
Let earth attend and fear!
Listen, ye men of royal birth,
And let your vassals hear.
4 Together in his presence bow,
And all your guilt confess;
Embrace the blessed Saviour now,
Nor trifle with his grace.

5 Bow, ere the awful trumpet sound,
And call you to his bar:

For mercy knows the appointed bound,
And turns to vengeance there.
6 Amazing love, that yet will call,
And yet prolong our days!

Our hearts subdu'd by goodness fall,
And weep, and love, and praise.
316. L. M. Dr. Doddridge.
Expostulation with Sinners.
WAmidst a thousand trifling cares?
ye lavish out your years

While in the various range of thought
The one thing needful is forgot.
2 Why will ye chase the fleeting wind,
And famish an immortal mind?
While angels, with regret, look down
To see you spurn a heav'nly crown.
3 Th' eternal God calls from above,
And Jesus pleads his bleeding love;
Awaken'd conscience gives you pain;
And shall they join their pleas in vain?
4 Not so your dying eyes shall view
Those objects which ye now pursue;
Not so shall heav'n and hell appear,
When the decisive hour is near.

N

5 Almighty God, thy grace impart To fix conviction on the heart; Thy grace unveils the blindest eyes, And makes the haughtiest scorner wise. 317. L. M. Mr. S. Deacon. The Importance of true Wisdom- -O! that they were wise. Deut. xxxii. 29, 30.

1

JEHOVAH, by his servant, cries,

O that the sons of men were wise!
O that they did but understand,
And think upon their latter end!
2 A thousand sins, a thousand woes,
A thousand fears, a thousand foes,
Will fly before the happy man,
Who forms his life by such a plan.
3 While others prosecute their schemes,
Wild and romantic as their dreams,
He'll seize the minutes as they fly,
A peaceful exit to enjoy.

4 The spirits in the world above
Survey him with delight and love;
He claims a kindred with the skies,
And sings and triumphs when he dies.
5 What though his flesh and bones decay,
And mingle with their fellow clay;
His spirit, with divine delight,
Flies to the glories out of sight.
6 Be wise, ye sons of men, be wise;
Time on the swiftest pinions flies;
Eternal bliss, or endless woe,
You must enjoy, or undergo.

1

318. P. M. Hart.

Sinners invited to Christ.

Weak and wounded, sick and sore! ye sinners, poor and wretched,

Jesus ready stands to save you,

Full of pity, love and pow'r.
He is able,

He is willing, doubt no more.
2 Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream:

All the fitness he requireth,
is to see your need of him,
This be gives you,

"Tis the Spirit's glimm'ring beam.

3 Agonizing in the garden,

Lo! your Saviour prostrate lies;
On the bloody tree behold him,
Hear him cry before he dies,
"It is finish'd."

Sinners, will not this suffice?
Lo! the Saviour now ascended,
Pleads his all-atoning blood;
Venture on him, venture freely,
Let no object else intrude.
None but Jesus

Can do helpless sinners good.
5 Saints and angels join'd in concert,
Sing the praises of the Lamb;
While the blissful realms of glory
Sweetly echo with his name.
Hallelujah!

Sinners here may do the same.

319. L. M. Mr. Wesley.

COME, sinners, to the gospel feast,

Let every soul be Jesus' guest; Ye need not one be left behind, Jesus hath died for all mankind. 2" Have me excus'd," why will you say, From health, and life, and liberty! From all that is in Jesus given, From pardon, holiness, and heaven. 3 Come guilty souls, by sin opprest, Ye weary wand'rers after rest:

Ye poor and maimed, halt and blind, In Christ a hearty welcome find. 4 See him set forth before your eyes, Behold the bleeding sacrifice! Pardon and life let al! embrace, And freely now be sav'd by grace. 5 Ye who believe his record true, Shail sup with him, and he with you, Come to the feast, be sav'd from sin, For Jesus waits to take you in. 6 This is the time, no more delay, This is the glorious gospel day," Come guilty sinners at his call, And live to him who died for all.

1

320. P. M. Mr. Wesley.

YE weary wanderers, now draw near,

That know no solid peace or rest,
Lay by your doubt and anxious fear,
And lean upon the Saviour's breast;
All's stolen fruit that can be found,
To cheer the soul on nature's ground.
2 Come, for the gospel bids you come;
Jesus for sinners bled and died;
The sacred word reports there's room,
Nor shall you ever be denied.
Your souls shall find a resting-place
In arms of everlasting grace.

321. L. M. Mr. Wesley.

Invitatim of Sinners to Christ. Isa. lv. 1.
His cd invites the fallen race)
TO! every one that thirsts, draw nigh,
Mercy and free salvation buy;

Buy wine, and milk, and gospel grace.
2 Come to the living waters, come;
Sinners, obey your Maker's call!
Return, ye weary wand'rers, home,
And find my grace reach'd out to all.
3 See from the rock a fountain rise!

For you in healing streams it rolls; Money ye need not bring, nor price, Ye lab'ring, burden'd, sin-sick souls. 4 Nothing ye in exchange shall give; Leave all ye have and are behind; Freely the gift of God receive; Pardon and peace in Jesus tind.

1

322. L. M. Mr. Wesley.
Another. Isa. lv. 2, &c.

HITHEP, ye lab'ring sinners, come!
Jesus, the Lord, invites you near:
Jesus shall take you for his own,
And make you his peculiar care.
2 Why seek ve that which is not bread
Nor can you hungry souis sustain?
On asbes, nets, and air, ye feed;
Ye spend yoo: little all in vain.
3 In search of en.pty joys below,
Ye oil with unavailing strife:
Whither, ah, whither would ye go?
Christ has the words of endless life.

4 Hearken to Christ with earnest care,
And freely eat substantial food;
The sweetness of his mercy share,
And taste that he alone is good.
5 He bids you all his goodness prove,
His promises for sinners free;
Come taste the manna of his love,
And all his full salvation see.

323. L. M. Mr. Wesley.

The Sinner's Confession and humble Plea. Micah vi. 6, 7, 8.

1

WHEREWITH, O Lord, shall I draw near,

Or bow myself before thy face?
How in thy purer eyes appear?

What shall I bring to gain thy grace?
2 Will gifts delight the Lord most high?
Will multiply'd oblations please?
Thousands of rams his favour buy,
Or slaughter'd hecatombs appease?
3 Can these assuage the wrath of God?
Can these wash out my guilty stain?
Rivers of oil, or seas of blood,

Alas! they all must flow in vain.
4 What have I then wherein to trust?
I nothing have, I nothing am;
Excluded is my every boast,

My glory swallow'd up in shame. 5 Guilty I stand before thy face,

My sole desert is hell and wrath;
Twere just the sentence should take place,
But O, I plead my Saviour's death?

6 The saviour's name alone I plead,
Who dy'd for sinners on the tree;
In him I'll trust, nor be afraid,
The Saviour lov'd and dy'd for me.
324. L. M. Dr. Watts.
Penitence. Psalm li.

1

'THOU that bear'st when sinners cry, Though all my crimes before thee lie, Behold them not with angry look,

But blot their mem'ry from thy book.

2 Create my nature pure within,
And form my soul averse to sin:
Let thy good spirit ne'er depart,
Nor hide thy presence from my heart.

« PreviousContinue »