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377.

C. M.

Regeneration by the Spirit.

WATTS.

1 NOT all the outward forms on earth,
Nor rites that God has given,

Nor will of man, nor blood, nor birth,
Can raise a soul to heaven.
2 The sovereign will of God alone
Creates us heirs of grace,
Born in the image of his Son,
A new, peculiar race.

3 The Spirit, like some heavenly wind,
Breathes on the sons of flesh,
Creates anew the carnal mind,
And forms the man afresh.

4 Our quickened souls awake and rise
From their long sleep of death;
On heavenly things we fix our eyes,
And praise employs our breath.

378.

S. M.

MONTGOMERY.

God working in the Soul.

1 'TIS God the Spirit leads
In paths before unknown:

The work to be performed is ours;
The strength is all his own.

2 Supported by his grace,

We still pursue our way,
And hope at last to reach the prize,
Secure in endless day.

3 'Tis he that works to will;

379.

"Tis he that works to do;

The power by which we act is his,
And his the glory too.

C. M.

Sovereignty of the Spirit.

BEDDOME.

1 THE blesséd Spirit, like the wind,
Blows when and where he please:
How happy are the men who feel
The soul-enlivening breeze!

2 He moulds the carnal mind afresh,
Subdues the power of sin,

Transforms the heart of stone to flesh,
And plants his grace within.

3 He sheds abroad the Father's love,
Applies redeeming blood,

Bids both our guilt and fear remove,
And brings us home to God.

4 Lord, fill each dead, benighted soul
With light, and life, and joy :
None can thy mighty power control,
Or shall thy work destroy.

380.

L. M.

C. WESLEY.

The Spirit entreated not to depart.

1 STAY, thou insulted Spirit, stay,

Though I have done thee such despite; Cast not a sinner quite away,

Nor take thine everlasting flight.

2 Though I have most unfaithful been
Of all who e'er thy grace received, –
Ten thousand times thy goodness seen,
Ten thousand times thy goodness grieved, –

3 Yet, O, the chief of sinners spare,
In honor of my great High Priest;
Nor, in thy righteous anger, swear
I shall not see thy people's rest.

4 My weary soul, O God, release;
Uphold me with thy gracious hand;
O, guide me into perfect peace,
And bring me to the promised land.

381.

C. M.

CAMPBELL'S COL.

The Holy Spirit grieved.

1 THE God of grace will never leave
Or cast away his own;

And yet, when we his Spirit grieve,
His comforts are withdrawn.

2 If noisy war, or strife, abound,
We grieve the peaceful Dove;
His gracious aid is ever found
In paths of truth and love.

3 Should we indulge one secret sin,
Or disregard his laws,

His succors and support, within,
The Spirit, vexed, withdraws.

4 Forbid it, gracious Lord, that we,
Who, from thy hand, receive
The Spirit's power to make us free,
Should e'er that Spirit grieve.

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The Earnest of Heaven.

1 WHY should the children of a King
Go mourning all their days?

Great Comforter, descend, and bring
Some tokens of thy grace.

WAITS.

2 Dost thou not dwell in all thy saints,
And seal them heirs of heaven?
When wilt thou banish my complaints,
And show my sins forgiven?

3 Assure my conscience of her part
In my Redeemer's blood,

And bear thy witness, with my heart,
That I am born of God.

4 Thou art the earnest of his love,
The pledge of joys to come;

And thy soft wings, celestial Dove,
Will safely bear me home.

383.

L. M.

T. SCOTT.

Prayer for the Return of the Spirit.

1 O LORD, and shall our fainting souls
Thy just displeasure ever mourn?
Thy Spirit grieved, and long withdrawn,
Will he no more to us return?

2 Great source of light and peace, return,
Nor let us mourn and sigh in vain ;
Come, repossess our longing hearts
With all the graces of thy train.

3 This temple, hallowed by thine hand,
Once more be with thy presence blest;
Here be thy grace anew displayed;
Be this thine everlasting rest.

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1 SPIRIT of holiness, descend;
Thy people wait for thee;

S. F. SMITH.

Thine ear, in kind compassion, lend;
Let us thy mercy see.

2 Behold, thy weary churches wait,
With wishful, longing eyes ;
Let us no more lie desolate;
O, bid thy light arise.

3 Thy light, that on our souls hath shone,
Leads us in hope to thee;

Let us not feel its rays alone

Alone thy people be.

4 O, bring our dearest friends to God;
Remember those we love;

Fit them, on earth, for thine abode;
Fit them for joys above.

5 Spirit of holiness, 'tis thine

To hear our feeble prayer;

Come,- for we wait thy power divine, -
Let us thy mercy share.

385.

C. M.

Spirit of Holiness.

BATHURST.

1 SPIRIT of holiness, look down,
Our fainting hearts to cheer;
And, when we tremble at thy frown,
O bring thy comforts near.

2 The fear which thy convictions wrought, O, let thy grace remove;

And may the souls which thou hast taught
To weep, now learn to love.

3 Now let thy saving mercy heal
The wounds it made before;
Now on our hearts impress thy seal,
That we may doubt no more.

4 Complete the work thou hast begun,
And make our darkness light,
That we a glorious race may run,
Till faith be lost in sight.

5 Then, as our wondering eyes discern
The Lord's unclouded face,
In fitter language we shall learn
To sing triumphant grace.

386.

THE SCRIPTURES.

C. M.

Excellency of the Scriptures.

1 LET all the heathen writers join

To form one perfect book;

WATTS.

Great God, if once compared with thine,
How mean their writings look!

2 Not the most perfect rules they gave
Could show one sin forgiven,
Nor lead a step beyond the grave;
But thine conduct to heaven.

3 I've seen an end of what we call
Perfection here below.

How short the powers of nature fall,
And can no farther go.

4 Yet men would fain be just with God,
By works their hands have wrought;
But thy commands, exceeding broad,
Extend to every thought.

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