C. M.

402.

Vain Repentances.

C. WESLEY.

1 TIMES without number have I prayed,
This only once forgive;

Relapsing when thy hand was stayed,
And suffered me to live:

2 Yet now the kingdom of thy peace,
Lord, to my heart restore;
Forgive my vain repentances,
And bid me sin no more.

L. M.

403.

DODDRIDGE.

Returning to God.

1 LORD, we have wandered from thy way,
Like foolish sheep have gone astray,
Our pleasant pastures we have left,
And of their guard our souls bereft.

2 Exposed to want, exposed to harm,
Far from our gentle Shepherd's arm;
Nor will these fatal wanderings cease,
Till thou reveal the paths of peace.

3 O seek thy thoughtless servants, Lord,
Nor let us quite forget thy word;
Our erring feet do thou restore,
And keep us that we stray no more.

C. M.

404.

MONTGOMERY.

Preparation of the Heart.

1 LORD, teach us how to pray aright, With reverence and with fear:

Though dust and ashes in thy sight,
We may, we must, draw near.

2 Burdened with guilt, convinced of sin,
In weakness, want, and woe,
Fightings without, and fears within,
Lord, whither shall we go?

3 God of all grace, we come to thee,
With broken, contrite hearts;
Give what thine eye delights to see,
Truth in the inward parts;-

4 Give deep humility; the sense
Of godly sorrow give;
A strong desiring confidence,
To hear thy voice and live;

5 Patience, to watch, and wait, and weep,
Though mercy long delay;
Courage, our fainting souls to keep,
And trust thee, though thou slay.

6 Give these, and then thy will be done;
Thus strengthened with all might,
We, by thy Spirit and thy Son,
Shall pray, and pray aright.

C. M.

405.

Salvation only in God.

DODDRIDGE.

1 How long shall dreams of earthly bliss
Our flattering hopes employ?
And mock our fond, deluded eyes
With visionary joy?

2 Why from the mountains and the hills Is our salvation sought?

While our eternal Rock's forsook, And Israel's God forgot.

3 The living spring neglected flows Full in our daily view,

Yet we, with anxious, fruitless toil,
Our broken cisterns hew.

4 These fatal errors, gracious God,
With gentle pity see;

To thee our roving eyes direct,
And fix our hearts on thee.

Forgiveness of Sin upon Confession. Psalm 82.

1 O BLESSED Souls are they,

Whose sins are covered o'er! Divinely blest, to whom the Lord Imputes their guilt no more!

2 They mourn their follies past, And keep their hearts with care; Their lips and lives, without deceit, Shall prove their faith sincere.

3

4

While I concealed my guilt,
I felt the festering wound;
Till I confessed my sins to thee,
And ready pardon found.

Let sinners learn to pray,

Let saints keep near the throne; Our help in times of deep distress Is found in God alone.

Freedom from Sin and Misery in Heaven.

1 OUR sins, alas! how strong they be!
And, like a violent sea,

They break our duty, Lord, to thee,
And hurry us away.

2 The waves of trouble, how they rise!
How loud the tempests roar!
But death shall land our weary souls
Safe on the heavenly shore.

3 There, to fulfil his sweet commands,
Our speedy feet shall move;
No sin shall clog our winged zeal,
Or cool our burning love.

4 There shall we sit, and sing, and tell,
The wonders of his grace;

Till heavenly raptures fire our hearts,

1 My soul before thee prostrate lies;
To thee, her source, my spirit flies;
My wants I mourn, my chains I see;
O let thy presence set me free.

2 In life's short day, let me yet more
Of thy enlivening power implore;
My mind must deeper sink in thee,
My foot stand firm, from wandering free.

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.