1 OH God! my sins are manifold, against my life they cry, And all my guilty deeds foregone, up to thy temple fly; Wilt thou release my trembling soul, that to despair is driven? 'Forgive!' a blessed voice replied, and thou shalt be forgiven!' 2 My foemen, Lord! are fierce and fell, they spurn me in their pride, They render evil for my good, my patience they deride; Arise, oh King! and be the proud to righteous ruin driven! 'Forgive an awful answer came, 'as thou wouldst be forgiven!' 3 Seven times, oh Lord! I pardoned them, seven times they sinned again: They practise still to work me wo, they triumph in my pain ; But let them dread my vengeance now, to just resentment driven ! 'Forgive!' the voice of thunder spake, 'or never be forgiven!' 35. C. M. STERNHOLD, altered. Humble Penitence. 1 OH Lord, turn not thy face away from them that lowly lie, Lamenting sore their sinful life with tears and bitter cry! Thy mercy-gates are open wide to them that mourn their sin; Oh shut them not against us, Lord, but let us enter in! 2 We need not to confess our fault, for surely thou canst tell What we have done, and what we are thou knowest very well: Wherefore, to beg and to intreat, with tears we come to thee, As children that have done amiss fall at their father's knee. 3 And need we then, oh Lord! repeat the blessing which we crave, When thou dost know, before we speak, the thing that we would have? mercy we seek: Mercy! oh Lord, this is the total sum! For mercy, Lord! is all our prayer, -oh, let thy mercy come! 1 WHILE I keep silence, and conceal 2 I spread my sins before the Lord, 3 For this shall every humble soul 4 How safe beneath thy wings I lie, 2 THERE was joy in Heaven!" 2 There was joy in Heaven! 3 There was joy in heaven! And along the echoing hill Angels sang-On earth good will, And glory in the heaven. 4 There is joy in Heaven! When the sheep that went astray Sobs its prayer of gratitude Then is there joy in Heaven! DEVOUT ASPIRATIONS AND AFFECTIONS. 38. C. M. MRS STEELE. Watchfulness and Prayer. 1 ALAS, what hourly dangers rise! 2 How oft my mournful thoughts complain, 3 O gracious God, in whom I live, Help me to watch, and pray, and strive, 4 Increase my faith, increase my hope, 5 When strong temptations fright my heart, My God, thy powerful aid impart, 6 Still keep me in thy heavenly way, And never let me go astray 39. L. M. EPISCOPAL COL. The Soul panting for God. 1 As, panting in the sultry beam, The hart desires the cooling stream, So to thy presence, Lord, I flee, 2 But rising griefs distress my soul, O'er hours of peace and gladness flown. 3 For I have walked the happy round 4 Ah, why, by passing clouds opprest, Whom suppliants never sought in vain Thy hope, when joy has passed away. 40. 7s M. MONTGOMERY. The Image of God. 1 FATHER of eternal grace, 2 Happy only in thy love, 3 Humble, holy, all resigned 4 Counting gain and glory loss, Secret Communion with God. 1 FATHER of Jesus Christ, my Lord, Encouraged by the Saviour's word 2 Far from the paths of men, to thee See thou, who dost in secret see, 3 Thy grace I languish to receive, 4 Fain would I all thy goodness feel, 42. L. M. COWPER. Looking upward in Affliction. 1 God of my life, to thee I call, When the great water-floods prevail, 2 Friend of the friendless, and the faint! 3 Did ever mourner plead with thee, 4 That were a grief I could not bear, True Happiness only in God. 1 HAPPINESS! thou lovely name, Where's thy seat? O tell me where ! |