1 WHEN sinners quit their wicked ways,
Their evil thoughts forego,
The God to whom their steps return
Returning grace will show.
2 He pardons with o'erflowing love;
For, hear the voice divine :—
'My nature is not like to yours,
Nor like your ways are mine.
3 But far as heaven's resplendent orbs
Beyond this earth extend;
So far my thoughts, so far my ways
Your thoughts and ways transcend.
4 'Like as the showers from heaven distil, Nor thither rise again,
But swell the earth with fruitful juice,
And all its tribes sustain;
5'So not a word that flows from me
Shall ineffectual fall;
But universal nature prove
Obedient to my call.
6 'Where briers grew in barren wilds,
Shall firs and myrtles spring;
And nature, through her utmost bounds,
Eternal praises sing.'
'Come now, and let us reason together.'
1 'COME, sinners,' saith the mighty God, 'Heinous as all your crimes have been, Lo! I descend from mine abode
To reason with the sons of men.
2 'No clouds of darkness veil my face,
No fearful lightnings flash around;
I come with words of life and peace
Where sin hath reigned, let grace abound.'
3 Yes, Lord, we will obey thy call,
And to thy gracious sceptre bow;
O make our crimson sins like wool,
Our scarlet crimes as white as snow.
4 So shall our thankful lips repeat
Thy praises with a tuneful voice,
While humbly prostrate at thy feet,
We wonder, tremble, and rejoice.
1 FORGIVENESS! 'tis a joyful sound
To sinners of so deep a dye!
Publish the bliss the world around,-
Ye seraphs, shout it from the sky!
2 'Tis the rich gift of love divine;
'Tis full, out-measuring every crime.
Unclouded shall its glories shine,
And know no change by changing time
3 O'er sins unnumbered as the sand,
And like the mountains for their size
The seas of sovereign grace expand-·
The seas of sovereign grace arise.
4 For this stupendous love of heaven,
What grateful honor shall we show?
Where much transgression is forgiven,
Let love in equal ardors glow.
5 By this inspired, let all our days
With various holiness be crowned;
Let truth and goodness, prayer and praise
In all abide, in all abound.
'Who is a pardoning God like Thee!'
1 GREAT God of wonders! all thy ways
Are matchless, godlike and divine;
But the bright glories of thy grace
More godlike and unrivalled shine.
Who is a pardoning God like thee!
O, who has grace so rich and free!
2 Sins of such baseness to forgive,
Such thankless, guilty worms to spare,—
This is thy grand prerogative,
And none shall in the honor share.
Who is a pardoning God like thee!
O, who has grace so rich and free!
3 In wonder lost, with trembling joy,
We take the pardon of our God;
Pardon for sins of deepest dye,
A pardon sealed with Jesus' blood.
Who is a pardoning God like thee!
O, who has grace so rich and free!
4 O may this great, this matchless grace, This godlike miracle of love,
Fill the wide earth with grateful praise,
And all th' angelic choirs above!
Who is a pardoning God like thee!
O, who has grace so rich and free!
CONFESSION AND PENITENCE.
A Penitent pleading for Pardon. Ps. 51.
1 SHOW pity, Lord; O Lord, forgive;
Let a repenting rebel live;
Are not thy mercies large and free?
May not a sinner trust in thee?
2 My sins are great, but not surpass
The power and glory of thy grace:
Great God, thy nature hath no bound,-
So let thy pardoning love be found.
soul from every sin,
And make my guilty conscience clean;
Here on my heart the burden lies,
And past offences pain mine eyes.
4 My lips with shame my sins confess
Against thy law, against thy grace;
Lord, should thy judgment grow severe,
I am condemned, but thou art clear.
5 Yet save a trembling sinner, Lord,
Whose hope, still hovering round thy word,
Would light on some sweet promise there,
Some sure support against despair.
|