Us, and our works, canst thou behold? Justly are they abhorr'd by thee,
Whose works are neither hot nor cold.
2 Better that we had never known
The way to heaven, through saving grace, Than basely in our lives disown,
And slight and mock thee to thy face.
3 0 let us our own works forsake;
Ourselves and all we have deny :
Thy condescending counsel take;
And come to thee, pure gold to buy.
4 0 may we through thy grace attain
The faith thou never wilt reprove ;-
The faith that purges every stain,-
The faith that always works by love.
L. M.
AVIOUR, I now with shame confess
My thirst for creature happiness;
By base desires I wrong'd thy love,
And forced thy mercy to remove.
2 Yet, O the riches of thy grace!
Thou, who hast seen my evil ways,
Wilt freely my backslidings heal,
And pardon on my conscience seal
3 Yea, for thy truth and mercy's sake,
My comfort thou wilt give me back;
And lead me on from grace to grace,
In all the paths of righteousness;
4 Till throughly saved my new-born soul,
And perfectly by faith made whole,
Shall bright in thy full image rise,
To share thy glory in the skies.
Lamenting the absence of the Spirit.
FOR a closer walk with God,-
A calm and heavenly frame;
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb.
2 Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord ?
Where is the soul-refreshing view
Of Jesus and his word?
3 What peaceful hours I once enjoy'd!
How sweet their mem❜ry still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.
4 Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest:
I hate the sins that made thee mourn,
And drove thee from my breast.
5 The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only thee.
6 So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.
(WEET was the time when first I felt
The Saviour's pard'ning blood
Applied to cleanse my soul from guilt,
And bring me home to God.
2 Soon as the morn the light reveal'u,
His praises tuned my tongue;
And when the evening shades prevail'd,
His love was all my song.
3 In prayer my soul drew near the Lord, And saw his glory shine;
And when I read his holy word,
I call'd each promise mine.
4 But now, when evening shade prevails,
My soul in darkness mourns;
And when the morn the light reveals,
No light to me returns.
5 Rise, Lord, and help me to prevail;
O make my soul thy care;
I know thy mercy cannot fail ;-
Let me that mercy share.
JESUS, full of truth and grace,—
More full of grace than I of sin,—
Yet once again I seek thy face;
Open thine arms and take me in!
And freely my backslidings heal,
And love the faithless sinner still.
2 Thou know'st the way to bring me back,My fallen spirit to restore;
O for thy truth and mercy's sake,
Forgive, and bid me sin no more:
The ruins of my soul repair,
And make my heart a house of prayer.
3 Ah, give me, Lord, the tender heart,
That trembles at the' approach of sin;
A godly fear of sin impart;
Implant and root it deep within,
That I may dread thy gracious power,
And never dare to' offend thee more.
Restore my peace.
JESUS! full of grace,
'I
To thee I make my moan:
Let me again behold thy face--
Call home thy banish'd one
2 Again my pardon seal,
Again my soul restore,
And freely my backslidings heal,
And bid me sin no more.
3 Wilt thou not bid me rise?
Speak, and my soul shall live;
Forgive, my gasping spirit cries,—
Abundantly forgive.
4 Thine utmost mercy show;
Say to my drooping soul,—
In peace and full assurance go;
Thy faith hath made thee whole.
THAT I were as heretofore,
When, warm in my first love,
I only lived my God to' adore,
And seek the things above.
2 Upon my head his candle shone,
And, lavish of his grace,
With cords of love he drew me on,
And half unveil'd his face.
3 Far, far above all earthly things
Triumphantly I rode;
I soar'd to heaven on eagles' wings,
And found, and talk'd with God
4 Where am I now? from what a height Of happiness cast down!
The glory swallow'd up in night,
And faded is the crown.
5 O God, thou art my home, my rest,
For which I sigh in pain;
How shall I 'scape into thy breast?
My Eden how regain?
God's absence deprecated.
THOU, whose mercy hears
Contrition's humble sigh;
Whose hand, indulgent, wipes the tears
From sorrow's weeping eye;-
2 See, at thy throne of grace,
A wretched wand'rer mourn :
Hast thou not bid me seek thy face?
Hast thou not said,-Return?
3 Shall guilty fears prevail
To drive me from thy feet?
O let not this last refuge fail,-
This only safe retreat.
4 Absent from thee, my Light,
Without one cheering ray,-
Through dangers, fears, and gloomy night,
How desolate my way!
5 On this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy shine;
And let thy voice again impart
A taste of joy divine.
12th P. M. 76, 76, 78, 76. The deceitfulness of sin.
JESUS, friend of sinners, hear
Yet once again, I pray;
From my debt of sin set clear,
For I have naught to pay:
Speak, O speak the kind release;
A poor backsliding soul restore;
Love me freely, seal my peace,
And bid me sin no more.
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