And, with the gift thy hand bestows,

Relieve the sufferer's care.

6 The widow's heart shall sing for joy;

The orphan's tear be dry; The sinner hear the call of love, And find a Saviour nigh.

359

1

Sin and Darkness deplored. Ps. li. 12.

OH 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 enjoyed;
How sweet their memory 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.

360

1

ONC

The Believer in Darkness.

NCE I thought my mountain strong,
Firmly fixed, no more to move;

Then my Saviour was my song,

Then my soul was filled with love:
Those were happy, golden days,
Sweetly spent in prayer and praise.
2 Little, then, myself I knew,

Little thought of Satan's power;

Boden.

C. M.

Согорет.

7s.

Now I feel my sins anew,
Now I feel the stormy hour.
Sin has put my joys to flight,
Sin has turned my day to night.

3 Saviour, shine and cheer my soul;
Bid my dying hopes revive;
Make my wounded spirit whole,
Far away the tempter drive;
Speak the word and set me free,
Let me alive alone to thee.

361

1

WHY

Mourning over Declension.

THY is my heart so far from thee,
My God, my chief delight?

Why are my thoughts no more by day
With thee-no more by night?

2 Why should my foolish passions rove?
Where can such sweetness be

As I have tasted in thy love,
As I have found in thee?

3 When my forgetful soul renews
The savor of thy grace,
My heart presumes I cannot lose
The relish all my days.

4 But ere one fleeting hour is past;
The flattering world employs
Some sensual bait to seize my taste,
And to pollute my joys.

5 Trifles of nature, or of art,
With fair deceitful charms,
Intrude into my thoughtless heart,
And thrust me from thy arms.

6 Then I repent, and vex my soul.
That I should leave thee so;
Where will those wild affections roll
That let a Saviour go?

7 Sin's promised joys are turned to pain,
And I am drown'd in grief;

But my dear Lord returns again,
He flies to my relief.

8 Seizing my soul with sweet surprise,
He draws with loving bands;

Newton.

C. M.

Divine compassion in his eyes,
And pardon in his hands.

9 Wretch that I am, to wander thus,
In chase of false delight!
Let me be fastened to thy cross,
Rather than lose thy sight.

10 Make haste, my days, to reach the goal,

And bring my heart to rest

On the dear centre of my soul,
My God, my Saviour's breast.

362 "Will ye also go away?" John vi. 67.

1

WHE

HEN any turn from Zion's way,
(Alas, what numbers do!)

Methinks I hear my Saviour say-
"Wilt thou forsake me too?"

2 Ah, Lord, with such a heart as mine,
Unless thou hold me fast,

I feel I must, I shall decline,
And prove like them at last.

3 Yet thou alone hast power, I know,
To save a wretch like me;
To whom, or whither could I go,
If I should turn from thee?

4 No voice but thine can give me rest,
And bid my fears depart;

No love but thine can make me bless'd,
And satisfy my heart.

5 What anguish has that question stirred—
"And wilt thou also go?"

Yet, Lord, relying on thy word,

I humbly answer-no.

363

1

OH

Prayer for Divine Light.

H reveal thy lovely face;
Quicken all my drooping powers;
Gasps my fainting soul for grace,

As a thirsty land for showers;
Haste, my Lord, no more delay;
Come, my Saviour, come away.
2 Dark and cheerless is the morn,
Unaccompanied by thee:

Watts.

C. M.

Newton,

78.

Joyless is the day's return,

Till thy mercy's beams I see; Till thou inward light impart,

Glad my eyes and warm my heart. 3 Visit, then, this soul of mine,

Pierce the gloom of sin and grief; Fill me, Radiancy divine;

Scatter all my unbelief;

More and more thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.

364

1

2

3

The Smile of the Saviour withdrawn.
HERE is the Saviour now,

WHERE

Whose smiles I once possessed?

Till he return, I bow,

By heaviest grief oppressed;
My days of happiness are gone,
And I am left to weep alone.

Where can the mourner go
And tell his tale of grief?
Ah, who can soothe his wo,

And give him sweet relief?

What balm can heal the wounded breast,
And give the troubled conscience rest?

Thou, Jesus, canst impart,

By thy long wished return,
Ease to this wounded heart,

And bid me cease to mourn

Then shall this night of sorrow flee,

And I rejoice, my Lord, in thee.

365

C. Wesley.

H. M.

Raffles.

8s.

Hope in God. Ps. lxxvii. 7.
NCOMPASSED with clouds of distress,
Just ready all hope to resign,

I pant for the light of thy face,
And fear it will never be mine:
Disheartened with waiting so long,

I sink at thy feet with my load;
All plaintive I pour out my song,
And stretch forth my hands unto God.
2 Shine, Lord, and my terror shall cease;
The blood of atonement apply,

And lead me to Jesus for peace—
The rock that is higher than I:

Almighty to rescue thou art;

Thy grace is my shield and my tower: Oh visit and gladden my heart;

Let this be the day of thy power.

366

1

Supplication.

Toplady.

HEAR, gracious God, my humble moan,

To thee I breathe my sighs;

When will the mournful night be gone,
And when my joys arise?

2 My God!-Oh could I make the claim-
My Father and my Friend-
And call thee mine by every name
On which thy saints depend-

3 By every name of power and love,
I would thy grace entreat:
Nor should my humble hope remove,
Nor leave thy mercy-seat.

4 Yet, though my soul in darkness mourns,
Thy word is all my stay;

Here would I rest till light returns;
Thy presence makes my day.

5 Speak, Lord, and bid celestial peace
Relieve my aching heart;

Oh smile, and bid my sorrows cease,
And all the gloom depart.

6 Then shall my drooping spirit rise,

And bless the healing rays;

And change these deep, complaining sighs,
To songs of sacred praise.

367

1

JESUS,

Prayer of the Penitent.

ESUS, let thy pitying eye
Call back a wand'ring sheep;
False to thee, like Peter, I

Would fain like Peter weep;
Let me be by grace restored,

And to me thy mercy shown;
Turn and look upon me, Lord,
And break my heart of stone.
2 Saviour, Prince, enthroned above,
Repentance to impart,

C. M.

Mrs. Steele.

7.6.