  323. 7s. M. Milman.Prayer for Mercy in Spiritual Need. 1Lord, have mercy when we pray Strength to seek a better way; When our wakening thoughts begin First to loathe their cherished sin; When our weary spirits fail, And our aching brows are pale; When our tears bedew thy word; Then, O then, have mercy, Lord. 2Lord, have mercy when we lie On the restless bed and sigh,-- Sigh for death, yet fear it still; From the thought of former ill; When the dim, advancing gloom Tells us that our hour is come; When is loosed the silver cord; Then, O then, have mercy, Lord. 3Lord, have mercy, when we know First how vain this world below: When its darker thoughts oppress, Doubts perplex, and fears distress; When the earliest gleam is given Of the bright but distant heaven; Then thy fostering grace afford; Then, O then, have mercy, Lord. 324. C. M. Village Hymns.The Prodigal's Return. 1The long-lost son, with streaming eyes, From folly just awake, Reviews his wanderings with surprise; His heart begins to break. 2"I starve," he cries, "nor can I bear The famine in this land, While servants of my Father share The bounty of his hand. 3"With deep repentance I'll return And seek my Father's face; Unworthy to be called a son, I'll ask a servant's place." 4Far off the Father saw him move, In pensive silence mourn, And quickly ran with arms of love, To welcome his return. 5O, let thy boundless mercy shine On my benighted soul, Correct my passions, mend my heart, And all my fears control. 325. L. M. 6l. Wesley's Coll.Imploring Forgiveness and Renewal of Heart. 1Forgive us for thy mercy's sake; Our multitude of sins forgive; And for thy own possession take, And bid us to thy glory live; Live in thy sight and gladly prove Our faith by our obedient love. 2The covenant of forgiveness seal, And all thy mighty wonders show; Our hidden enemies expel, And conquering them to conquer go, Till all of pride and wrath be slain, And not one evil thought remain. 3O, put it in our inward parts The living law of perfect love: Write the new precept on our hearts; We shall not then from thee remove, Who in thy glorious image shine, Thy people, and forever thine. 326. L. M. Beddome.Inconstancy Lamented. 1The wandering star and fleeting wind Are emblems of the fickle mind; The morning cloud and early dew Bring our inconstancy to view. 2But cloud and wind and dew and star, Only a faint resemblance bear; Nor can there aught in nature be So changeable and frail as we. 3Our outward walk and inward frame Are scarcely through an hour the same: We vow, and straight our vows forget, And then those very vows repeat. 4With contrite hearts, Lord, we confess Our folly and unsteadfastness: When shall these hearts more stable be, Fixed by thy grace alone on thee? 327. S. M. Jervis.God's Mercy to the Penitent. 1Sweet is the friendly voice Which speaks of life and peace; Which bids the penitent rejoice, And sin and sorrow cease. 2No balm on earth like this Can cheer the contrite heart; No flattering dreams of earthly bliss Such pure delight impart. 3Still merciful and kind, Thy mercy, Lord, reveal: The broken heart thy love can bind, The wounded spirit heal. 4Thy presence shall restore Peace to my anxious breast: Lord, let my steps be drawn no more From paths which thou hast blessed. 328. L. M. Doddridge.Returning to God. 1Lord, 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. 2Exposed 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. 3O 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. 329. L. M. Steele.Sense of Sin. 1Jesus demands this heart of mine, Demands my love, my joy, my care, But ah, how dead to things divine, How cold my best affections are! 2'Tis sin, alas! with dreadful power, Divides my Saviour from my sight; O, for one happy, shining hour Of sacred freedom, sweet delight! 3Come, gracious Lord; thy love can raise My captive powers from sin and death, And fill my heart and life with praise, And tune my last, expiring breath. 330. C. M. Breviary.The True Penitent. 1O sinner! bring not tears alone, Or outward form of prayer: But let it in thy heart be known That penitence is there. 2To beat the breast, the clothes to rend, God asketh not of thee: Thy secret soul he bids thee bend In true humility. 3O righteous Judge! if thou wilt deign To grant us what we need; We pray for time to turn again, And grace to turn indeed. 331. L. M. Richter.Devout Penitence. 1My 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. 2In 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. 3Take full possession of my heart; The lowly mind of Christ impart; I still will wait, O Lord, on thee, Till, in thy light, the light I see. 4One only care my soul should know, Father, all thy commands to do; Oh! deep engrave it on my breast, That I in thee alone am blest. 332. C. M. C. Wesley.Vain Repentance. 1Times without number have I prayed, "This only once forgive;" Relapsing when thy hand was stayed, And suffered me to live. 2Yet now the kingdom of thy peace, Lord, to my heart restore; Forgive my vain repentances, And bid me sin no more. 333. P. M. Heber."There is Joy in Heaven over one Sinner that Repenteth." 1There was joy in heaven! There was joy in heaven! When this goodly world to frame, The Lord of light and mercy came: Shouts of joy were heard on high, And the stars sang from the sky, "Glory to God in heaven!" 2There was joy in heaven! There was joy in heaven! When of love the midnight beam Dawned on the towers of Bethlehem; And along the echoing hill Angels sang--"On earth good will, And glory in the heaven!" 3There is joy in heaven! There is joy in heaven! When the sheep that went astray Turns again to virtue's way; When the soul by grace subdued Sobs its prayer of gratitude, Then is there joy in heaven! 334. 7s. M. Merrick.Freedom from Error, Guilt and Folly. 1Blest Instructor! from thy ways Who can tell how oft he strays? Save from error's growth our mind, Leave not, Lord, one root behind. 2Purge us from the guilt that lies Wrapt within our heart's disguise; Let us thence, by thee renewed, Each presumptuous sin exclude. 3Let our tongues, from error free, Speak the words approved by thee: To thine all-observing eyes, Let our thoughts accepted rise. 4While we thus thy name adore, And thy healing grace implore, Blest Instructor! bow thine ear: God our strength! propitious hear. 335. 6s. & 4s. M. R. Palmer.For Divine Guidance. 1O God, thy grace impart! Revive my fainting heart; My zeal inspire; Reveal thyself to me, And may my love to thee Pure, warm, and changeless be,-- A living fire. 2While life's dark maze I tread, And griefs around me spread, Be thou my guide; Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow's tears away, Nor let me ever stray From thee aside. 3When ends life's transient dream, When death's cold sullen stream Shall o'er me roll, O Father, then in love, Fear and distress remove, And bear me safe above,-- A ransomed soul. 336. C. P. M. Henry Moore.Pardon. 1Soft are the fruitful showers that bring The welcome promise of the spring, And soft the vernal gale: Sweet the wild warblings of the grove, The voice of nature and of love, That gladden every vale. 2But softer in the mourner's ear Sounds the mild voice of mercy near, That whispers sins forgiven; And sweeter far the music swells, When to the raptured soul she tells Of peace and promised heaven. 3Fair are the flowers that deck the ground; And groves and gardens blooming round, Unnumbered charms unfold: Bright is the sun's meridian ray, And bright the beams of setting day, That robe the clouds in gold. 4But far more fair the pious breast, In richer robes of goodness dressed, Where heaven's own graces shine; And brighter far the prospects rise, That burst on faith's delighted eyes, From glories all divine. 337. L. M. Cowper.Peace after a Storm. 1When darkness long has veiled my mind, And smiling day once more appears, Then, my Creator! then I find The folly of my doubts and fears. 2Straight I upbraid my wandering heart, And blush that I should ever be Thus prone to act so base a part, Or harbor one hard thought of thee. 3O! let me then at length be taught, What I am still so slow to learn,-- That God is love, and changes not, Nor knows the shadow of a turn. 4Sweet truth, and easy to repeat! But when my faith is sharply tried, I find myself a learner yet, Unskilful, weak, and apt to slide. 5But, O my God! one look from thee Subdues the disobedient will, Drives doubt and discontent away, And thy rebellious child is still. 338. L. M. Mrs. Cotterill.For a Life devoted to God's Glory. 1O thou, who hast at thy command The hearts of all men in thy hand! Our wayward, erring hearts incline To have no other will but thine. 2Our wishes, our desires, control; Mould every purpose of the soul; O'er all may we victorious be That stands between ourselves and thee. 3Thrice blest will all our blessings be, When we can look through them to thee, When each glad heart its tribute pays Of love, and gratitude, and praise. 4And while we to thy glory live, May we to thee all glory give, Until the final summons come, That calls thy willing servants home. |
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