Repentance at the foot of the Cross.
1 OH! if my soul were form'd for woe,
How would I vent my sighs!
Repentance should like rivers flow
From both my streaming eyes.
2 'Twas for my sins my dearest LORD
Hung on the cursed tree,
And groan'd away a dying life
For Thee, my soul, for Thee.
3 Oh! how I hate those lusts of mine, That crucified my God!
Those sins that pierc'd and nail'd His flesh Fast to the fatal wood!
4 Yes, my REDEEMER, they shall die;
My heart has so decreed:
Nor will I spare the guilty things,
That made my SAVIOUR bleed.
10 THAT I could my LORD receive,
Who did the world redeem!
Who gave His life that I might live
A life conceal'd in Him!
2 Mercy I ask to seal my peace,
That, kept by mercy's pow'r,
I may from ev'ry evil cease,
And never grieve Thee more!
3 Now, if Thy gracious will it be,
E'en now my sins remove;
And set my soul at liberty,
By Thy victorious love.
4 In answer to ten thousand pray'rs,
Thou pard'ning GOD descend!
Number me with salvation's heirs!
My sins and troubles end!
5 Nothing I ask or want beside,
Of all in earth or heav'n:
But let me feel Thy blood applied,
And live and die forgiv'n.
Reflections upon spiritual state.
1 O MY LORD, I've often mused
On Thy wondrous love to me;
How I have that love abused;
Slighted, disregarded Thee.
To Thy church and Thee-a stranger,
Pleas'd with what displeas'd Thee;
Lost, yet could perceive no danger;
Wounded, yet no wound could see.
2 But unwearied Thou pursu'dst me,
Still Thy calls repeated came,
Till on Calvary's mount I view'd Thee
Bearing my reproach and blame.
There, o'erwhelm'd with shame and sorrow,
Bruis'd and stretch'd each bleeding limb;
Tears bedew the scourge's furrow,
Mingled with the purple stream,
3 I no more at Mary wonder,
Dropping tears upon the grave, Earnest, asking all around her,Where is He, who died to save? Dying love her heart attracted;
Soon she felt His rising pow'r:He, who Mary thus affected,
Bids His mourners weep no more.
1 THE LORD will happiness divine
On contrite hearts bestow;
Then tell me, gracious GOD, is mine
A contrite heart or no?
2 I hear, but seem to hear in vain,
Insensible as steel;
If ought is felt,, 'tis only pain
To find I cannot feel.
3 I sometimes think myself inclin'd
To love Thee, if I could;
But often feel another mind,
Averse to all that's good.
4 My best desires are faint and few,
I fain would strive for more;
5 Thy saints are comforted I know,
Ånd love Thy house of prayer:
I sometimes go where others go,
But find no comfort there.
6 O make this heart rejoice or ache;
Decide this doubt for me;
And if it be not broken, break;
And heal it, if it be.
1 LET the redeem'd give thanks and praise
To a forgiving GOD!
My feeble voice I cannot raise,
Till wash'd in JESU's blood:
2 Till at Thy coming from above,
My mountain-sin depart,
And fear gives place to filial love,
And peace o'erflows my heart.
3 Pris'ner of hope, I still attend
Th' appearance of my LORD,
These endless doubts and fears to end,
And speak my soul restor❜d:
4 Restor❜d by reconciling grace;
With present pardon blest;
And fitted by true holiness
For my eternal rest.
5 The peace which man can ne'er conceive, The love and joy unknown,
Now, FATHER, to Thy servant give,
And claim me for Thine own.
6 My GOD, through JESUS pacified;
My GOD, Thyself declare;
And draw me to His open side,
And plunge the sinner there.
Desiring to give up all for Christ.
AII! whither should I go,
Burden'd, and sick, and faint!
To whom should I my troubles show,
And pour out my complaint?
My SAVIOUR bids me come;
Ah! why do I delay?
He calls the weary sinner home,
And yet from Him I stay!
What is it keeps me back,
From which I cannot part?
Which will not let the SAVIOUR take
Possession of my heart?
Some cursed thing unknown
Must surely lurk within;
Some idol which I will not own,
Some secret bosom-sin.
3 JESUS, the hind'rance show,
Which I have fear'd to see:
Yet, let me now consent to know
What keeps me back from Thee.
Searcher of hearts, in mine
Thy trying pow'r display;
Into it's darkest corners shine,
And take the veil away.
I now believe, in Thee
Compassion reigns alone:
According to my faith, to me
O let it, LORD, be done!
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