2 Yet sovereign mercy cries, "Return," Lord, at thy call, I come;
My vile ingratitude I mourn;
O take the wanderer home!
3 And canst thou, wilt thou yet forgive,
And all my crimes remove?
And shall a pardon'd rebel live,
To speak thy wondrous love?
4 Almighty grace, thy healing power
How glorious! how divine!
That can to life and bliss restore
So vile a heart as mine!
5 Thy pard'ning love, for ever free,
With rapture I adore ;
Lord, I devote myself to thee,
And long to love thee more.
HYMN CXIV. Long Metre.
The Gospel Feast.
HOW rich are thy provisions, Lord!
Thy table furnish'd from above;
The fruits of life o'erspread the board;
The cup o'erflows with heavenly love.
2 Thine ancient family, the Jews,
Were first invited to the feast ;
We humbly take what they refuse,
And Gentiles thy salvation taste.
3 We are the poor, the blind, the lame,
And help was far and death was nigh ;
Yet, at the gospel call, we came,
And every want receiv'd supply.
4 From the high way that leads to hell,
From paths of darkness and despair,
Lord, we are come with thee to dwell,
Glad to enjoy thy presence here.
5 What shall we pay our heavenly Friend,
Who left the sky, his blest abode,
And did to this low earth descend,
To bring us wanderers back to God?
6 Our everlasting love is due
To him, who pitied sinners lost;
And paid our ransom, when he knew
His precious life must be the cost.
Rich Treasure in earthen Vessels.
1 HOW rich thy bounty, King of kings!
Thy favours how divine!
The blessings which thy gospel brings,
How splendidly they shine!
2 Gold is but dross, and gems but toys;
Should gold and gems compare,
How mean! when set against those joys
Thy poorest servants share!
3 Yet all these treasures of thy grace
Are lcdg'd in urns of clay,
And the weak sons of mortal race
Th' immortal gifts convey.
4 Feebly they lisp thy glories forth,
Yet grace the victory gives;
Quickly they moulder back to earth,
Yet still the gospel lives.
5 Such wonders power divine effects;
Such trophies God can raise ;
His hand from crumbling dust erects
His monuments of praise.
HYMN CXVI. Common Metre.
The Frailty and Folly of Man.
1 HOW short and hasty is our life!
How vast our souls' affairs!
Yet foolish mortals vainly strive
To lavish out their years.
2 Our days run thoughtlessly along,
Without a moment's stay;
Just like a story or a song,
We pass our lives away.
3 God from on high invites us home,
But we march heedless on ;
And ever hastening to the tomb,
Stoop downward as we run.
4 Draw us, O God, with sovereign grace, And lift our thoughts on high;
That we may end this mortal race,
And see salvation nigh.
HYMN CXVII. Common Metre. # or b God's Justice and Power. Job ix. 2, 10. 1 HOW should the sons of Adam's race Be just before their God! If he contend in righteousness, We fall beneath his rod.
2 To vindicate my words and thoughts,
I'll make no vain pretence;
Not one of all my numerous faults
Can bear a just defence.
3 Strong is his arm, his heart is wise ;
What vain presumers dare
Against their Maker's power to rise,
And impious war declare !
Mountains, by his almighty wrath,
From their old seats are torn ;
He shakes the pillars of the earth,
And all the nations mourn.
5 Through the wide air, the mighty rocks
Are swift as hail-stones thrown ;
Whilst Etna pours, with horrid shocks,
Her melted entrails down.
6 He bids the sun forbear to rise,
The obedient sun forbears;
His hand with darkness spreads the skies,
And seals up all the stars.
7 He walks upon the stormy sea,
And rides upon the wind;
No flesh can trace his wondrous way,
Nor his dark footsteps find.
Yet, mighty God, thy sovereign grace
Sits regent on the throne,
The refuge of thy chosen race,
When wrath comes rushing down.
WATTS, with variation.
HYMN CXVIII. Common Metre. or b
The Gospel Feast.
1 HOW sweet and awful is the place,
With Christ within the doors;
Here everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores
2 Whilst all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast;
Each of us say, with thankful tongues,
"Lord, why was I a guest ?
3 "Why was I made to hear thy voice,
"And enter whilst there's room,
"When thousands make a wretched choice, "And rather starve than come ?"
4 Twas the same love that spread the feast,
Which gently drew us in;
Or we had still refus'd to taste,
And perish'd in our sin.
5 Pity the nations, O our Lord!
Compel the Jews to come;
Send thy victorious word abroad,
And bring thy people home.
6 We long to see thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May with one voice, and heart, and soul,
Sing thy redeeming grace.
The Beauties of the Spring.
1 HOW sweetly along the gay mead
The daisies and cowslips are seen ;
The flocks, as they carelessly feed,
Rejoice in the beautiful green!
2 The vines that encircle the bowers,
The herbage that springs from the sod,
Trees, plants, cooling fruits and sweet flowers,
All rise to the praise of my God.
3 Shall man, the great master of all,
The only insensible prove?
Forbid it, fair gratitude's call,
Forbid it, devotion and love.
The Lord, who such wonders can raise,
And still can destroy with a nod,
My lips shall incessantly praise,
My soul shall rejoice in my God.
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