Though hosts encamp around me,
Firm to the fight I stand :
What terror can confound me
With God at my right hand?
2 Place on the Lord reliance;
My soul, with courage wait;
His truth be thine affiance,
When faint and desolate ;
His might thine heart shall strengthen;
His love thy joy increase;
Mercy thy days shall lengthen;
The Lord will give thee peace.

HYMN 328. C. M. [# or b]
Assurance of Hope.

1 WHEN I can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies,

I bid farewell to every fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes.

2 Should earth against my soul engage,
And fiery darts be hurled,
Then I can smile at envy's rage,
And face a frowning world.

3 Let cares like a wild deluge come,
And storms of sorrow fall,

May I but safely reach my home,
My God, my Heaven, my All.

4 There shall I bathe my weary soul
In seas of heavenly rest,
And not a wave of trouble roll
Across my peaceful breast.

PENITENCE AND REFORMATION.

HYMN 329. C. M. [b]

Repentance and Hope.

1 O THOU, the wretched's sure Retreat, My restless cares control,

And, with the cheerful smile of

Revive my fainting soul.

peace,

2 Oppressed with grief and shame, dissolved In penitential tears,

Thy goodness calms my rising doubts,
And dissipates my fears.

3 From that blest Source, propitious hope
Appears serenely bright,

And sheds, its soft, diffusive beam
O'er sorrow's dismal night.

4 My griefs confess its vital power,
And bless the friendly ray.
Which ushers in the peaceful morn
Of everlasting day.

HYMN 330. C. M. [b]
Repentance.

1 My Saviour, when my thoughts recall
The wonders of thy grace,

Low at thy feet ashamed I fall;
And hide my blushing face.

2 Shall love like thine be thus repaid? Ah, vile, ungrateful heart,

By earth's unworthy cares betrayed,
From Jesus to depart!

3 From Jesus, who alone can give
True pleasure, peace, and rest:
When absent from my Lord, I live
Unsatisfied, unblest.

4 O, while I breathe to thee, my Lord, The penitential sigh,

Confirm the kind, the pardoning word,
With pity in thine eye.

HYMN 331. L. M. [b]

Penitential Confession.

1 HEAR me, O Lord, in my distress; Hear me in truth and righteousness; For, at thy bar of judgment tried, None living can be justified.

2 Lord, I have foes without, within, The world, the flesh, in-dwelling sin, Life's daily ills, temptation's power, And passions raging to devour.

3 Teach me thy will, subdue my own; Thou art my God, and thou alone; By thy good spirit guide me still, Safe from all foes, to Zion's hill.

4 Release my soul from trouble, Lord; Quicken and keep me by thy word; May all its promises be mine;

Be thou

my Portion-I am thine.

HYMN 332. C. M. [b]

Contrition.

10 THOU, whose tender mercy hears
Contrition's humble sigh,

Whose hand, indulgent, wipes the tears
From sorrow's weeping eye,

2 See, low before thy throne of grace,
A wretched wanderer mourn!
Hast thou not bid me seek thy face?
Hast thou not said, Return?

3 O shine on this benighted heart!
With beams of mercy shine,
And let thy healing voice impart
A taste of joys divine.

4 Thy presence only can bestow
Delights which never cloy :
Be this my solace here below,
And my eternal joy.

HYMN 333. L. M. [b]

Penitential Aspirations.

1 SHOW mercy, Lord; O Lord, forgive; Let a repenting sinner live :

Are not thy mercies large and free?
May not the contrite trust in thee?

2 O wash my soul from every stain,
Nor let the guilt I mourn remain;
Give me to hear thy pardoning voice,
And bid my bleeding heart rejoice.

3 Give me a will to thine subdued,
A conscience pure, a soul renewed ;
Nor let me, lost in hopeless gloom,
An outcast from thy presence roam.
4 Then shall thy love inspire my tongue;
Salvation shall be all my song;

And every power shall join to bless
The Lord, my Strength and Righteousness

HYMN 334. C. M. [b]

Repentance and Peace.
1 How oft, alas, this wretched heart
Has wandered from the Lord!
How oft my roving thoughts depart,
Forgetful of his word!

2 Yet Sovereign Mercy calls, Return:
Dear Lord, and may I come?
My vile ingratitude I mourn :
O, take the wanderer home.

3 And canst thou, wilt thou, yet forgive,
And bid my crimes remove?
And shall a pardoned rebel live
To speak thy wondrous love?

4 Almighty Grace, thy healing power,
How glorious, how divine,
Which can to life and bliss restore
So vile a heart as mine!

5 Thy pardoning love, so free, so sweet,
Dear Saviour, I adore :

O keep me at thy sacred feet,

And let me rove no more.