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PART IX.

Penitential.

268.

Common Metre. CowPER.

Human frailty acknowledged.

WE

man:

EAK and irresolute is The purpose of to-day, Woven with pains into his plan, To-morrow rends away.

2 Some foe to his upright intent Finds out his weaker part; Virtue engages his assent,

But pleasure wins his heart.

3 Life's voyage is of awful length,
Through dangers little known:
A stranger to superior strength,
Man vainly trusts his own.

4 But oars alone can ne'er prevail
To reach the distant coast;

The breath of heav'n must swell the sail,
Or all the toil is lost.

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269.

Common Metre. DODDRIdge.

Inconstancy in Religion lamented.
ERPETUAL Source of light and

Pgrace!

We hail thy sacred name;

Through ev'ry year's revolving round,
Thy goodness is the same.

2 On us, all-worthless as we are,
Its wondrous mercy pours;
Sure as the heav'ns establish'd course,
And plenteous as the show'rs.

3 Inconstant service we repay,

And treach'rous vows renew;
False as the morning's scatt'ring cloud,
And transient as the dew.

4 Low at thy feet our guilt we mourn,
And loud implore thy grace,
To bear our feeble footsteps on,
In all thy righteous ways.

5. Arm'd with this energy divine,
Our souls shall constant prove,
And, with increasing transport, press
On to thy courts above.

6 So, by thy pow'r, the morning sun
Pursues his radiant way,

Brightens each moment in his race,
And shines to perfect day.

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270.

Long Metre. BLACKLOCK.

Reliance on GOD's compassion to human weakness.

G

REAT GOD! if nature, weak and frail,
To strong temptations oft give way;
If doubt or passion should prevail
O'er wand'ring reason's feeble ray:
2 On thy compassion I rely;

Let not thy frowns my faults reprove;
Regard me with a father's eye,
And guide me with a father's love.

271.

Proper Metre. JOHN TAYLOR. Penitential acknowledgements, and supplica

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GOD

tions for pardon.

OD of mercy! GOD of love!
Hear our sad repentant song;

Sorrow dwells on ev'ry face,
Penitence on ev'ry tongue.

2 Deep regret for follies past,
Talents wasted, time mispent;
Hearts debas'd by worldly cares,
Thankless for the blessings lent:
3 Foolish fears and fond desires,
Vain regrets for things as vain;
Lips too seldom taught to praise,
Oft to murmur and complain.

4 These, and ev'ry secret fault,
Fill'd with grief and shame we own;
Humbled, at thy feet we lie,
Seeking pardon from thy throne.

5 GOD of mercy! God of grace!
Hear our sad repentant songs;
O restore thy suppliant race,
Thou to whom all praise belongs.

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272.

Long Metre. WATTS.

The same subject.

THOU who hear'st when sinners cry!
Though all my crimes before thee lie,
Behold them not with angry look,
But blot their mem'ry from thy book.

2 Renew me, O my GOD! within,
And form my soul averse to sin:
Thy freely pard'ning grace impart,
And shed thy love thro' all

my heart. 3 Though I have oft offended, Lord! Thy help and comfort still afford; And hear, while prostrate at thy throne, I plead, and trust, thy grace alone.

4 A broken heart, my GoD, my King!
Is all the sacrifice I bring;

The GoD of grace will ne'er despise
A broken heart for sacrifice.

5 I cannot live without thy light,
Cast out and banish'd from thy sight:
Thy holy joys, my God! restore,

And guard me that I fall no more,

6 Then will I teach the world thy grace;
Sinners shall learn to seek thy face,
Forsake the evil ways they trod,
And love and serve a pard'ning GOD.

273.

Proper Metre. MERRICK.

Freedom from error, guilt, and folly, implored. 1 LEST Instructor! from thy ways who can tell how of the strays?

BLE

Save from error's growth my mind,
Leave not, LORD! one root behind.

2 Purge me from the guilt that lies
Wrapt within my heart's disguise;
Let me thence, by thee renew'd,
Each presumptuous sin exclude:

3 So my lot shall ne'er be join'd
With the men whose impious mind,
Fearless of thy just command,
Braves the vengeance of thy hand.

4 Let my tongue, from error free,
Speak the words approv'd by thee:
To thy all observing eyes,
Let my thoughts accepted rise.