תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

3 When, sunk in guilt, our race approach'd The borders of despair,

Thy grace through Jesus' blood proclaim'd
A free salvation near.

4 What shall we render, bounteous Lord,
For all the grace we see?

Alas! the goodness worms can yield
Extendeth not to thee.

5 To tents of woe, to beds of pain,
Our cheerful feet repair;

And with the gifts thy hand bestows,
Relieve the mourners there.

6 The widow's heart shall sing for joy;
The orphan shall be glad;

And hung'ring souls we'll gladly point
To Christ the living bread.

7 Thus, passing through this vale of tears,
Our useful light shall shine;

And others learn to glorify
Our Father's name divine.

355

CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE.

Lively hope and gracious fear.

1 I WAS a grov'ling creature once,
And basely clave to earth;

I wanted spirit to renounce
The clod that gave me birth.

2 But God has breath'd upon a worm
And sent me, from above,
Wings, such as clothe an angel's form,
The wings of joy and love.

3 With these to Pisgah's top I fly,
And there delighted stand,
To view beneath a shining sky
The spacious promis'd land.

C. M.

3

4 The Lord of all that vast domain
Has promis'd it to me;

The length and breadth of all the plain,
As far as faith can see.

5 How glorious is my privilege!
To thee for help I call;

I stand upon a mountain's edge!
O save me, lest I fall!

6 Though much exalted in the Lord,
My strength is not mine own;
Then let me tremble at his word,
And none shall cast me down.

C. M.

356*

1

THOU

Desiring evidence of adoption.

HOU Lord of all the worlds on high,
Allow my humble claim;

Nor, while a child would raise its cry,
Disdain a Father's name.

2 My Father, God, how sweet the sound!
How tender and how dear!
Not all the melody of heav'n
Could so delight the ear.

3 Come, sacred Spirit, seal the name
On my believing heart,

And show that in Jehovah's grace
I share a filial part.

4 By such a heav'nly signal cheer'd,
Unwav'ring, I believe,

And Abba, Father, humbly cry;
Nor can the sound deceive.

5 On wings of everlasting love
The Comforter has come;
All terrors at his voice disperse,
And endless pleasures bloom.

357**

1

Christ the anchor of the soul.

.P. M.

NOW have found, for hope of heav'n,
An anchor-ground that firm will hold;
One-through the cross of Jesus giv'n,
By God predestin'd from of old;
A ground that shall enduring stay
When earth and skies have pass'd away.
2 'Tis mercy,-mercy never ending,

Whose measure all our thoughts excels, The arms of pity wide extending,

Of Him whose heart for sinners feels,
And whose compassion warns his foes
To fly from sin and endless woes.
3 Of all beside were I forsak'n,

That could my soul or body cheer;
If ev'ry joy of earth were tak'n,

And not a friend were left me here,-
One Joy remains-the brightest, best-
With pard'ning love I still am blest.
4 Upon this ground I will sustain me

As long as earth my dwelling prove;
To serve my God and Savior train me,
Till, dying, I shall rise above;-
And there, rejoicing, will adore
Unbounded mercy evermore.

358

1

ON

[blocks in formation]

N the brink of fi'ry ruin, Justice, with a flaming sword, Was my guilty soul pursuing When I first beheld my Lord.

2 Terrified with Sinai's thunder,
Straight I flew to Calvary,

Where, by faith, with love and wonder,
Him I saw who died for me.

3 "Sinner," he exclaim'd, "I've lov'd thee,
With an everlasting love;

Justice has in me approv'd thee; Thou shalt dwell with me above." 4 Sweet as angels' notes in heav'n, When to golden harps they sound, Is the voice of sins forgiv'n, To the soul by Satan bound. 5 Sweet as angels' harps in glory, Was that heav'nly voice to me, When I saw my Lord before me Bleed and die to set me free! 6 Saints, attend with holy wonder! Sinners, hear and sing his praise! 'Tis the God that holds the thunder Shows himself the God of grace!

359

1

[blocks in formation]

HEAR a voice that comes from far,
From Calvary it sounds abroad;
It soothes my soul and calms my fear;
It speaks of pardon bought with blood.
2 And is it true that many fly

The sound that bids my soul rejoice,
And rather choose in sin to die,

Than turn an ear to mercy's voice! 3 Alas for those!-the day is near

When mercy will be heard no more;
Then will they ask, in vain, to hear
The voice they would not hear before.
4 With such, I own, I once appear'd,

But now I know how great their loss;
For sweeter sounds were never heard
Than mercy utters from the cross.

360

1

W

The joy of conversion from sin.

C. M.

HEN God reveal'd his gracious name,
And chang'd my mournful state,

My rapture seem'd a pleasing dream,
The grace appear'd so great.

2 The world beheld the glorious change,
And did thy hand confess;

My tongue broke out in unknown strains,
And sang surprising grace.

3 "Great is the work," my neighbors cried,
And own'd thy pow'r divine;

"Great is the work," my heart replied, "And be the glory thine."

4 The Lord can clear the darkest skies,
Can give us day for night;

Make drops of sacred sorrow rise
To rivers of delight.

5 Let those that sow in sadness wait

Till the fair harvest come;

They shall confess their sheaves are great, And bring rich blessings home.

361

The pleasures of conversion.

OW various and how new

1 HOW

Are thy compassions, Lord!

S. M.

Each morning shall thy mercies show,
Each night thy love record.

2 Thy goodness, like the sun,
Dawn'd on our early days,
Ere infant reason had begun
To form our lips to praise.

3 Each object we beheld

Gave pleasure to our eyes,
And nature all our senses held
In bands of sweet surprise.
4 But pleasures more refin'd
Awaited that blest day,
When light arose upon our mind
To chase our sins away.

5 How various and how new
Are thy compassions, Lord!
Eternity thy truth shall show,
And all thy love record.

« הקודםהמשך »