152. Faith fainting. 1 ENCOMPASS'D with clouds of distress, Just ready all hope to resign, I pant for the light of thy face, And fear it never will be mine: Dishearten'd with waiting so long, I sink at thy feet with my load; All plaintive I pour out my song, And stretch forth my hands unto God. 2 Shine, Lord! and my terror shall cease; The blood of atonement apply; And lead me to Jesus for peace,The rock that is higher than I: Speak, Savior! for sweet is thy voice, Thy presence is fair to behold; Attend to my sorrows and criesMy groanings that cannot be told. 3 If sometimes I strive as I mourn, My hold of thy promise to keep, The billows more fiercely return, And plunge me again in the deep: While harass'd and cast from thy sight, The tempter suggests, with a roar,"The Lord has forsaken thee quite; Thy God will be gracious no more." 4 Yet, Lord, if thy love hath design'd No covenant blessing for me, Ah! tell me how is it I find Some pleasure in waiting for thee? Almighty to rescue thou art; Thy grace is my shield and my tower: Come, succor and gladden my heart, Let this be the day of thy power. 153. Faith conquering. 1 THE moment a sinner believes, And trusts in his crucified God, His pardon at once he receives,Redemption in full through his blood: Though thousands and thousands. of foes Against him in malice unite, Their rage he through Christ can oppose, Led forth by the Spirit to fight. 2 The faith, that unites to the Lamb, And brings such Salvation as this, Is more than mere notion or name; The work of God's Spirit it is; A principle, active and young, That lives under pressure and load; That makes out of weakness more strong, And draws the soul upward to 3 It treads on the world and on hell; It vanquishes death and despair; And ch let us wonder to tell, It overcomes heaven by prayer; Permits a vile worm of the dust, With God to commune as a friend; To hope his forgiveness as just, And look for his love to the end 4 It says to the mountains, part, De That stand betwixt God and the soul; |