CCCXL.

Hear, gracious God! a sinner's cry,
For I have nowhere else to fly;
My hope, my only hope's in Thee;
O God, be merciful to me !

To Thee I come, a sinner poor,
And wait for mercy at Thy door;
Indeed, I've nowhere else to flee:
O God, be merciful to me !

To Thee I come, a sinner weak,
And scarce know how to pray or speak;
From fear and weakness set me free;
O God, be merciful to me !

To Thee I come, a sinner vile;
Upon me, Lord, vouchsafe to smile!
Mercy alone I make my plea ;.
O God, be merciful to me!

To Thee I come, a sinner great,
And well Thou knowest all my state;
Yet full forgiveness is with Thee;
O God, be merciful to me!

To Thee I come, a sinner lost,

Nor have I ought wherein to trust;

But where Thou art, Lord, I would be;
O God, be merciful to me !

To glory bring me, Lord, at last ;
And there, when all my fears are past,
With all the saints I'll then agree,

God has been merciful to me!

Samuel Medley. 1789.

CCCXLI.

Hear, gracious God! my humble moan;
To Thee I breathe my sighs:
When will the mournful night be gone,
And when my joys arise?

My God! Oh! could I make the claim,
My Father and my Friend!
And call Thee mine, by every name
On which Thy saints depend;

By every name of power and love
I would Thy grace entreat;
Nor should my humble hopes remove,
Nor leave Thy sacred seat.

. Yet, though my soul in darkness mourns,
Thy word is all my stay;

Here I would rest till light returns,
Thy Presence makes my day.

Speak, Lord, and bid celestial peace
Relieve my aching heart!

O smile, and bid my sorrows cease,
And all the gloom depart!

Then shall my drooping spirit rise,
And bless Thy healing rays,

And change these deep complaining sighs

For songs of sacred praise !

Anne Steele. 1760.

CCCXLII.

And shall I sit alone,

Oppress'd with grief and fear,
To God my Father make my moan,
And He refuse to hear?

If He my Father be,

His pity He will show,

From cruel bondage set me free,
And inward peace bestow.

If still He silence keep,

'Tis but my faith to try;

He knows and feels, whene'er I weep,
And softens every sigh.

Then will I humbly wait,

Nor once indulge despair;

My sins are great, but not so great

As His compassions are.

Benjamin Beddome. [1818.j

CCCXLIII.

O that my load of sin were gone!

O that I could at last submit

At Jesus' feet to lay it down,

To lay my soul at Jesus' feet!

When shall mine eyes behold the Lamb,
The God of my salvation see?
Weary, O Lord, Thou know'st I am;
Yet still I cannot come to Thee.

Rest for my soul I long to find;
Saviour! (if mine indeed Thou art,)
Give me Thy meek and lowly mind,

And stamp Thy image on my heart!

Fain would I learn of Thee, my God,
Thy light and easy burden prove,
The cross, all stain'd with hallow'd blood,
The labour of Thy dying love.

This moment would I take it up,
And after my dear Master bear;
With Thee ascend to Calvary's top,

And bow my head and suffer there.
I would; but Thou must give the power,
My heart from every sin release:
Bring near, bring near the joyful hour,

And fill me with Thy perfect peace!

Come, Lord, the drooping sinner cheer, Nor let Thy chariot-wheels delay! heart appear

Appear, in my poor

!

My God, my Saviour, come away!

Charles Wesley. 1742.

CCCXLIV.

Come, let us to the Lord our God

With contrite hearts return;
Our God is gracious, nor will leave
The desolate to mourn.

His voice commands the tempest forth, .
And stills the stormy wave;

And, though His arm be strong to smite,
'Tis also strong to save.

Long hath the night of sorrow reign'd;
The dawn shall bring us light ;
God shall appear, and we shall rise
With gladness in His sight.

Our hearts, if God we seek to know,
Shall know Him, and rejoice;
His coming like the morn shall be,
Like morning songs His voice.

As dew upon the tender herb,
Diffusing fragrance round;
As showers that usher in the spring,
And cheer the thirsty ground;

So shall His Presence bless our souls,
And shed a joyful light;

That hallow'd morn shall chase away

The sorrows of the night.

John Morrison. 1770.

III.

FAITH.

"Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith."-(HEB. xii. 2.)

CCCXLV.

Come, O thou Traveller unknown,
Whom still I hold, but cannot see
My company before is gone,

And I am left alone with Thee;
With Thee all night I mean to stay,
And wrestle till the break of day.

I need not tell Thee who I am,
My misery or sin declare ;

Thyself hast call'd me by my name;

Look on Thy hands, and read it there!
But Who, I ask Thee, Who art Thou?
Tell me Thy Name, and tell me now.