2 'Tis the rich gift of love divine:
Tis full, out-measuring ev'ry crime:
Unclouded shall its glories shine,
And feel no change by changing time.
3 O'er sins, unbounded as the sand,
And like the mountains for their size,
The seas of sov'reign grace expand:
The seas of sov'reign grace arise.
4 For this stupendous love of heav'n,
What grateful honors shall we show
Where much transgression is forgiv'a,
Love will in equal ardors glow.
[5 Cheer'd by the hopes of pard'ning grace,
I come thy mercy, Lord, to prove
Like weeping Mary, let me taste
A pledge of thy forgiving love."]
463. L. M. Cennick.
Seeking Pardon....Psalm xxvii. 8.-
ORD, at thy feet I prostrate fall,
Opprest with fears to thee I call :
Reveal thy pard'ning love to me,
And set my captive spirit free.
2 Hast thou not said, "Seek ye my face;" The invitation I embrace ;
I'll seek thy face; thy Spirit give!
O let me see thy face, and live.
g I'll wait, perhaps my Lord may come;
If back I turn, hell is my doom;
And begging in his way, I'll lie
"Till the sweet hour he passeth by.
4 I'll seek his face with cries and tears,
With secret sighs and fervent pray'rs ;
And if not heard, I'll waiting sit,
And perish at my Saviour's feet.
5 But canst thou, Lord, see all my paid,
And bid me seek thy face in vain ?
Thou wilt not, canst not me deceive, The soul that seeks thy face shall live, [6 Then venture, O my soul, in pray'r,' For none can perish pleading here:
The blood of Christ, that crimson sea,
Shall wash my load of guilt away.'].
464. C. M. Jones. Successful Resolve....Esther iv. 16. 1 COME, humble sinner, in whose breast
A thousand thoughts revolve,
Come, with your guilt and fear opprest,
And make this last resolve:
2 "I'll go to Jesus, tho' my sin
“Нath like a mountain rose;
"I know his courts, I'll enter in,
"Whatever may oppose,
3" Prostrate I'll lie before his throne,
"And there my guilt confess;
I'll tell him I'm a wretch undone
"Without his sov'reign grace.
4" But should the Lord reject my plea,
"And disregard my pray'r;
"Yet still, like Esther, I will stay,
"And perish only there.
"I can but perish if I go—
"I am resolv'd to try ; "For if I stay away, I know
"I must forever die."]
6" But should I die with mercy sought,
"When I the king have tried:
"I there should die, (delightful thought!)
"Where ne'er a sinner dy'd."?
464. Second Part. L. M.
Pardoning God.... Micah vii. 18.
REAT God of wonders! all thy ways
Are matchless, Godlike, and divine:
But the fair glories of thy grace
More Godlike and unrivall'd shine
Who is a pard'ning God like thee?
Or who has grace so rich and free?
2 Crimes of such horror to forgive-
Such guilty, daring worms to spare,
This is thy grand prerogative,
And none shall in the honor share :
3 Angels and men, resign your claim
To pity, mercy, love, and grace:
These glories crown Jehovah's name
With an incomparable blaze :
4 In wonder lost, with trembling joy,
We take the pardon of our God:
Pardon for crimes of deepest dye-
A pardon seal'd with Jesu's blood:
5 O may this strange, this matchless grace-
This Godlike miracle of love,
Fill the wide earth with grateful praise,
And all th' angelic choirs above!
465. C. M. Green.
Parents' Prayer for their Children. O that Ishmael might live before thee....Gen. xvii. 18. HUS did the pious Abrah'm pray
1T For his beloved son :
Let parents in the present day
His language make their own.
2 Tho' they with God in cov'nant be,
And have their heav'n in view;
They are unhappy till they see
Their children happy too.
3 Their hearts with inward anguish bleed
When all attempts prove vain;
And they pursue those paths that lead
To everlasting pain.
4 They warn, indulge, correct, beseech,
While tears in torrents flow;
And 'tis beyond the pow'r of speech
To tell the griefs they know.
5 'Till they can see victorious grace
Their children's souls possess,
The sparkling wit, the smiling face
But adds to their distress.
6 See the fond father clasp his child;
Hark! how his bowels move:
"Shalt thou, my offspring, be exil'd
"From God my Father's love?
"Shall cruel spirits drag thee down
"To darkness and despair;
"Beneath th' Almighty's angry frown,
"To dwell forever there?
8 "Kind heav'n, the dreadful scene forbid!
"Look down, dear Lord, and bless ;
"I'll wrestle hard, as Jacob did-
"May I obtain success!"
466. L. M. Gibbons.
Patience.... Luke xxi. 19.
ATIENCE! O 'tis a grace divine,
Sent from the God of pow'r and love;
That leans upon its father's hand,
As thro' the wilderness we move.
2 By patience we serenely bear
The troubles of our mortal state, And wait contented our discharge, Nor think our glory comes too late. 3 Tho' we, in full sensation, feel
The weight, the wounds, our God ordains, We smile amidst our heaviest woes, And triumph in our sharpest pains. 4 O for this grace to aid our souls! And arm with fortitude the breast; 'Till life's tumult'ous voyage is o'er, We reach the shores of endless rest! Hh
5 Faith into vision shall resign,
Hope shall in full fruition die;
And patience in possession end
In the bright worlds of bliss on high.
467. 7s. Hammond.
Penitent seeking Christ....Cant. ii. 5.
RACIOUS Lord, incline thine ear,
My requests vouchsafe to hear:
Sore distrest with guilt am I,
Give me Christ, or else I die,
[2 Wealth and honor I disdain ;
Earthly comforts all are vain ;
These can never satisfy,
Give me Christ, or else I die.
8 Lord, deny me what thou wilt,
Only take away my guilt;
Mourning at thy feet I lie,
Give me Christ, or else I die.]
4 All unholy and unclean,
I am nothing else but sin;
I to thee for mercy fly,
Give me Christ, or else I die.
5 Thou dost freely save the lost;
In thy grace alone I trust;
With my earnest suit comply,
Give me Christ, or else I die.
6 O, my God, what shall I say
Take, O take my sins away:
Jesu's blood to me apply,
Give me Christ, or else I die,
7 Does the Father seem to frown? I take shelter in the Son:
Jesus, to thine arms I fly,
Save me, Lord, or else I die.
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