Glorify the King of kings,
Take the peace the gospel brings.
Expostulation with Sinners.
1 SINNERS! turn, why will ye die?
God, your Maker, asks you-Why?
God, who did your being give,
Made you with himself to live,-
He the fatal cause demands,
Asks the work of his own hands,-
Why, ye thankless creatures! why,
Will ye cross his love, and die?
2 Sinners! turn, why will ye die?
God, your Saviour, asks you-Why?
He, who did your souls retrieve,
Died himself that ye might live;-
Will ye let him die in vain?
Crucify your Lord again?
Why, ye ransomed sinners! why,
Will ye slight his grace, and die?
3 Sinners! turn, why will ye die?
God, the Spirit, asks you-Why?
Many a time with you he strove,
Wooed you to embrace his love:
Will ye not his grace receive?
Will ye still refuse to live?
Oh! ye guilty sinners! why-
Why will ye for ever die?
Expostulation with Sinners.
1 SINNERS! the voice of God regard; 'T is mercy speaks to-day;
He calls you by his sovereign word,
From sin's destructive way.
2 Like the rough sea that cannot rest, You live devoid of peace:
A thousand stings within your breast
Deprive your souls of ease.
3 Your way is dark, and leads to hell; And will you onward go?
Can you in endless burnings dwell,
Or bear eternal wo?
4 Lo! he, who turns to God, shall live,
Through his abounding grace;
His mercy will the guilt forgive
Of those who seek his face.
5 Bow to the sceptre of his word-
Renouncing every sin:
Submit to him, your Sovereign Lord,
And learn his will divine.
6 His love exceeds your highest thoughts;He pardons like a God;
He will forgive your numerous faults,
Through Christ's atoning blood.
1 BEHOLD a stranger at the door!
He gently knocks, has knocked before;
Has waited long-is waiting still;
You treat no other friend so ill.
2 Oh! lovely attitude-he stands
With melting heart and loaded hands:
Oh! matchless kindness-and he shows
This matchless kindness to his foes!
3 But will he prove a friend indeed?
He will the very friend you need;
The friend of sinners-yes, 't is he,
With garments dyed on Calvary.
4 Rise-touched with gratitude divine,
Turn out his enemy and thine,-
That soul-destroying monster, sin,-
And let the heavenly stranger in.
5 Admit him, ere his anger burn,-
His feet departed ne'er return;
Admit him.-or the hour 's at hand,
You'll at his door rejected stand.
8s, 7s and 4.
Invitation to Sinners.
1 COME, ye sinners! heavy-laden, Lost and ruined by the fall,
If you wait till you are better,
You will never come at all:
Sinners only,
Christ, the Saviour, came to call.
2 Let not sense of guilt prevent you,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness he requireth
Is to feel your need of him:
This he gives you ;-
"T is the Spirit's rising beam.
3 Agonizing in the garden,
Lo! your Saviour prostrate lies;
On the bloody tree behold him,
There he groans, and bleeds, and dies: "It is finished"
Heaven accepts the sacrifice.
4 Lo! th' incarnate God ascending
Pleads the merit of his blood;
Venture on him,-venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude:
None but Jesus
Can do helpless sinners good.
5 Saints and angels, joined in concert,
Sing the praises of the Lamb;
While the blissful seats of heaven
Sweetly echo with his name;
Hallelujah!-
Sinners here may sing the same.
The Sinner entreated.
1 RETURN, O wanderer! now return,
And seek thine injured Father's face;
Those new desires that in thee burn,
Were kindled by reclaiming grace.
2 Return, O wanderer! now return,
He hears thy deep repentant sigh;,
He hears thy softened spirit mourn,
When no intruding ear is nigh.
3 Return, O wanderer! now return,
Thy Saviour bids thy spirit live;
Go to his bleeding, feet, and learn
How freely Jesus can forgive.
4 Return, O wanderer! now return, And wipe away the falling tear; Thy Father calls-"No longer mourn!" "T is mercy's voice invites thee near.
The heavenly Guest.
1 AND will the Lord thus condescend
To visit sinful worms?
Thus at the door shall mercy stand,
In all her winning forms?
2 Shall Jesus for admittance plead,
His charming voice unheard?
And this vile heart, for which he bled,
Remain for ever barred?
3 'T is sin, alas! with tyrant-power,
The lodging has possessed;
And crowds of traitors bar the door,
Against the heavenly guest.
4 Lord! rise in thine all-conquering grace,
Thy mighty power display;
One beam of glory from thy face
Can drive my foes away.
5 Ye vile seducers! hence depart;
Dear Saviour! enter in;
Oh! guard the passage to my heart,
And keep out every sin.
85, 7s and 4.
Glad Tidings.
1 SINNERS! will you scorn the message Coming from the courts above?
Mercy speaks in every passage;
Every line is full of love;
Oh! believe it,
Every line is full of love.
2 Now, the heralds of salvation
Joyful news from heaven proclaim:
Sinners freed from condemnation,
Through the all-atoning Lamb!'
Life receiving
Through the all-atoning Lamb.
3 Who hath their report believed?
Who received the joyful word?
Who embraced the news of pardon,
Freely offered by the Lord?
Life immortal,—
Freely offered by the Lord.
4 O ye angels! hovering round us,-
Waiting spirits! speed your way,
Hasten to the court of heaven,
Tidings bear without delay,-
Rebel-sinners-
Glad the message will obey.
The accepted Time.
1 NOW is th' accepted time,
Now is the day of grace;
O sinners! come, without delay,
And seek the Saviour's face.
2 Now is th' accepted time,
The Saviour calls to-day;
To-morrow it may be too late ;-
Then why should you delay ?
3 Now is th' accepted time,
The gospel bids you come :
And every promise, in his word,
Declares there yet is room.
4 Lord! draw reluctant souls,
And melt them by thy love;
Then will the angels speed their way
To bear the news above.
1 HARK-hark! the gospel-trumpet sounds,→→
Through the wide earth the echo bounds;
Pardon and peace by Jesus' blood!
Sinners are reconciled to God,
2 Come, sinners! hear the joyful news Nor longer dare the grace refuse;
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