Contrite now for sinful ways,
Mis-used powers and mis-spent days,
I confess my shame to Thee;
Can I still absolved be?
Hear me, LORD, I Thee implore,
Kneeling at Thy Mercy's door.
From sin's penalties and fear
They are safe whom Thou dost clear,
Guilty, I such grace would share;
Wilt Thou not receive my prayer?
Hear me, LORD, I Thee implore,
Prostrate at Thy Mercy's door.
More than pardon; from the sin
Which has grieved Thee, take me in ;
May I ask, who seek Thy face,
Cleansing, healing, strength'ning grace?
Hear me, LORD, I Thee implore,
Waiting at Thy Mercy's door.
"White as snow!" O may I wear
Righteousness so bright and fair,
In Thy sight accepted be,
And Thy glorious Kingdom see?
Hear me, LORD, I Thee implore,
Waiting still at Mercy's door.
Past is every other plea,
All my hope is fixed on Thee;
Now Thy promise I believe,
Him who comes Thou wilt receive;
Thee to leave, dear LORD, no more,
Bid me enter Mercy's door. Amen.
"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
'COME unto Me, ye weary,
And I will give you rest.'
Oh, blessèd voice of JESUS,
Which comes to hearts opprest!
It tells of benediction,
Of pardon, grace, and peace,
Of joy that hath no ending,
Of love which cannot cease.
'Come unto Me, ye wanderers,
And I will give you light.'
Oh, loving voice of JESUS,
Which comes to cheer the night!
Our hearts were filled with sadness,
And we had lost our way,
But He has brought us gladness,
And songs at break of day.
'Come unto Me, ye fainting,
And I will give you life.'
Oh, cheering voice of JESUS,
Which comes to end our strife!
The foe is stern and eager,
The fight is fierce and long;
But Thou hast made us mighty,
And stronger than the strong.
'And whosoever cometh,
I will not cast him out.'
Oh, welcome voice of JESUS,
Which drives away our doubt:
Which calls us, very sinners,
Unworthy though we be
Of love so free and boundless,
To come, dear LORD, to Thee!
"What time I am afraid I will trust in Thee.
DEAR LORD, I am afraid, for lo! no more
I see the sunlight streaming full and free :
Oh, teach my fainting heart this heavenly lore—
What time I am afraid to trust in Thee.
"Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?"
HAIL that Head all torn and wounded,
With the crown of thorns surrounded!
Hail that face all marred and pale!
Hail that Body pierced and shaken,
Mocked of man, of GOD forsaken,
Left in death's last hour to fail!
Thou whose form for us was wasted,
Who for us of death hast tasted,
Hear us, sinners though we be.
Do not from Thy sufferings turn us;
Do not leave us, do not spurn us;
Let us cling in death to Thee.
By Thine anguish, by Thy crying,
By Thy voice when Thou wast dying,
By Thy last expiring breath:
Thou, of heavenly life the Giver,
Thou, Almighty to deliver,
Oh receive our souls in death!
When our weakened minds are straying,
Make, O LORD, no long delaying,
Fail us not, O JESU, then.
With Thy presence us defending,
Come and cheer our latest ending,
SAVIOUR of the sons of men! Amen.
HARK, my soul, it is the LORD,
'Tis thy SAVIOUR, hear His word:
JESUS speaks, and speaks to thee
'Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou Me?
'I delivered thee when bound,
And, when bleeding, healed thy wound;
Sought thee wandering, set thee right,
Turned thy darkness into light.
'Can a woman's tender care
Cease towards the child she bare?
Yes, she may forgetful be;
Yet will I remember thee.
'Mine is an unchanging love,
Higher than the heights above,
Deeper than the depths beneath,
Free and faithful, strong as death.
'Thou shalt see My glory soon,
When the work of grace is done;
Partner of My throne shalt be :-
Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou Me?'
LORD, it is my chief complaint
That my love is weak and faint;
Yet I love Thee and adore!
Oh for grace to love Thee more!
"Of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.'
I HEARD the voice of JESUS say,
'Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon My Breast.'
I came to JESUS as I was,
Weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in Him a resting-place,
And He has made me glad.
I heard the voice of JESUS say,
'Behold I freely give
The living water, thirsty one,
Stoop down, and drink, and live.'
I came to JESUS, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.
I heard the voice of JESUS say,
'I am this dark world's Light;
Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,
And all thy day be bright.'
I looked to JESUS, and I found
In Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that Light of life I'll walk,
Till travelling days are done.
"O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?'
I KNOW not if I do believe,—
And yet at times all things have seemed
Unreal, untrue.
Is it GOD's voice that speaks to me
The words I read?
And does His very present help
Touch my great need?
peace and joy He offers seem too great,
And yet without them I am desolate.
Increase my faith, LORD, help this unbelief,
Which is my grief.
O LORD, I know not if I love,—
I am so cold;
There is no answering glow to meet
Thy love untold.
And love that flows to all around
Is silent when I would express
Some love to Thee.
Thou knowest all things, therefore search my heart,
Rekindle love, or else fresh love impart ;
Break the self-will that makes me cold to Thee
By loving me.
Thus cried I in the dark, and stretched
A weary hand
To find the LORD, who close beside
Did waiting stand.
His eye was reading every thought
Of doubt and care,
His smile of welcome, tho' unseen,
Had long been there.
And though all else seemed shadowy and dim,
I touched His robe, and virtue flow'd from Him ;
O LORD, my only Hope and Refuge Thou,
I take Thee now.
"I am the Good Shepherd."
I WAS wandering and weary,
When my SAVIOUR came unto me;
For the ways of sin grew dreary,
And the world had ceased to woo me;
And I thought I heard Him say,
As He came along His way,
'O silly souls! come near Me;
My sheep should never fear Me;
I am the Shepherd true.'
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