3 One only care my soul should know,
Father, all thy commands to do;
O deep engrave it on my breast,
That I in thee alone am blest.

C. M.

409.

FURNESS.

The Penitent Son.

1 O RICHLY, Father, have I been

Blest evermore by thee!

And morning, noon, and night thou hast
Preserved me tenderly.

2 And yet the love which thou shouldst claim To idols I have given;

Too oft have bound to earth the hopes
That know no home but heaven.

3 Unworthy to be called thy son, I come with shame to thee,

Father! — O more than Father thou

Hast always been to me!

4 Help me to break the heavy chains
The world has round me thrown,
And know the glorious liberty
Of an obedient son.

5 That I may henceforth heed whate'er
Thy voice within me saith,

Fix deeply in my heart of hearts
A principle of faith, -

6 Faith that, like armor to my soul,
Shall keep all evil out,

More mighty than an angel host,
Encamping round about.

7s. M.

410.

MILMAN.

Prayer for Mercy in Spiritual Need.

1 LORD, have mercy when we pray
Strength to seek a better way;
When our wakening thoughts begin
First to loathe their cherished sin;
When our weary spirits fail,
And our aching brows are pale;
When our tears bedew thy word;
Then, O then have mercy, Lord!

2 Lord, have mercy when we lie
On the restless bed, and sigh,-
Sigh for death, yet fear it still,
From the thought of former ill;
When the dim, advancing gloom
Tells us that our hour has come;
When is loosed the silver cord;
Then, O then have mercy, Lord!

3 Lord, have mercy, when we know
First how vain this world below;
When its darker thoughts oppress,
Doubts perplex, and fears distress;
When the earliest gleam is given
Of the bright but distant heaven;
Then thy fostering grace afford;
Then, O then have mercy, Lord!

288

1 THROUGH thee, O Lord, we own
A new and heavenly birth,
Kindred to spirits round thy throne,
Though sojourners of earth.

2 How glorious is the hour

When first our souls awake,

And, through thy Spirit's quickening power, Of the new life partake.

3 With richer beauty glows
The world before so fair;
Her holy light religion throws,
Reflected everywhere.

4 Amid repentant tears

We feel sweet peace within; We know the God of mercy hears, And pardons every sin.

5 Born of thy Spirit, Lord,
Thy spirit may we share;

Deep in our hearts inscribe thy word,
And place thine image there.

1 MAY I resolve, with all my heart,
With all my powers, to serve the Lord;
Nor from his precepts e'er depart,
Whose service is a rich reward.

2 Be this the purpose of my soul,
My solemn, my determined choice,
To yield to his supreme control,
And in his kind commands rejoice.

3 O may I never faint nor tire,

Nor, wandering, leave his sacred ways!
Great God! accept my soul's desire,
And give me strength to live thy praise.

S. M.

413.

The Christian's Charge.

C. WESLEY.

1 A CHARGE to keep I have,
A God to glorify;

A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky;
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfil :

O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master's will!

2

Arm me with jealous care,
As in thy sight to live;

And oh! thy servant, Lord, prepare

The strict account to give:
Help me to watch and pray,
And on thyself rely:

Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forsaken die.

S. M.

414.

CowPER.

1

2

Dependence on God.

To keep the lamp alive,
With oil we fill the bowl;

"T is water makes the willow thrive,

3

4

5

And

grace that feeds the soul.

The Lord's unsparing hand Supplies the living stream; It is not at our own command, But still derived from him.

Man's wisdom is to seek
His strength in God alone;
And e'en an angel would be weak,
Who trusted in his own.

Retreat beneath his wings,
And in his grace confide;

This more exalts the King of kings,
Than all your works beside.

In God is all our store;

Grace issues from his throne;

Whoever says,

"I want no more,"

Confesses he has none.