If you wait till you are better,
You will never come at all:
Sinners only,
Christ, the Saviour, came to call.
2 Let not sense of guilt prevent you,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness he requireth
Is to feel your need of him :
This he gives you ;-
'Tis the Spirit's rising beam.
3 Agonizing in the garden,
Lo! your Saviour prostrate lies
On the bloody tree behold him,
There he groans, and bleeds, and dies! "It is finished"
Heaven accepts the sacrifice.
4 Lo! th' incarnate God ascending
Pleads the merit of his blood;
Venture on him,-venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude:
None but Jesus
Can do helpless sinners good.
5 Saints and angels, joined in concert,
Sing the praises of the Lamb ;
While the blissful seats of heaven
Sweetly echo with his name;
Sinners here may sing the same.
The Sinner entreated.
1 RETURN, O wanderer! now return,
And seek thine injured Father's face;
Those new desires that in thee burn,
Were kindled by reclaiming grace.
2 Return, O wanderer! now return,
He hears thy deep repentant sigh;
He hears thy softened spirit mourn,
When no intruding ear is nigh
B Return, O wanderer! now return,
Thy Saviour bids thy spirit live;
Go to his bleeding feet, and learn
How freely Jesus can forgive.
4 Bern, O wanderer! now return,
and wipe away the falling tear;
Thy Father calls-"No longer mourn !"
'T is mercy's voice invites thee near.
The heavenly Guest.
1 AND will the Lord thus condescend
To visit sinful worms?
Thus at the door shall mercy stand,
In all her winning forms?
2 Shall Jesus for admittance plead,
His charming voice unheard?
And this vile heart, for which ne bled,
Remain for ever barred?
3 'T is sin, alas! with tyrant-power,
The lodging has possessed;
And crowds of traitors bar the door,
Against the heavenly guest.
4 Lord! rise in thine all-conquering grace,
Thy mighty power display;
One beam of glory from thy face
Can drive my foes away.
5 Ye vile seducers! hence depart;
Dear Saviour! enter in;
Oh! guard the passage to my heart,
And keep out every sin.
8s, 7s and 4.
Glad Tidings.
1 SINNERS! will you scorn the message
Coming from the courts above?
Mercy speaks in every passage;
Every line is full of love;
Oh! believe it,
Every line is full of love.
2 Now, the heralds of salvation
Joyful news from heaven proclaim :
Sinners freed from condemnation,
Through the all-atoning Lamb:
Life receiving
Through the all-atoning Lamb,
3 Who hath their report believed?
Who received the joyful word?
Who embraced the news of pardon
Freely offered by the Lord?
Life immortal,-
Freely offered by the Lord.
4 O ye angels! hovering round us,-
Waiting spirits' speed your way,
Hasten to the court of heaven,
Tidings bear without delay,-
Rebel-sinners-
Glad the message will obey.
The accepted Time.
1 NOW is th' accepted time,
Now is the day of grace;
O sinners! come, without delay,
And seek the Saviour's face.
2 Now is th' accepted time,
The Saviour calls to day;
To-morrow it may be too late ;-
Then why should you delay ?
3 Now is th' accepted time,
The gospel bids you come:
And every promise, in his word,
Declares there yet is room.
4 Lord! draw reluctant souls,
And melt them by thy love;
Then will the angels speed their way
To bear the news above.
1 HARK-hark! the gospel-trumpet sounds,--
Through the wide earth the echo bounds;
Pardon and peace by Jes is' blood!
Sinners are reconciled to God,
2 Come, sinners! hear the joyful news, Nor longer dare the grace refuse;
Mercy and justice here combine,
Goodness and truth harmonious join,
T' invite you near.
3 Ye saints in glory! strike the lyre;
Ye mortals! catch the sacred fire·
Let both the Saviour's love proclaim ;-
For ever worthy is the Lamb
The Young exhorted.
1 YE hearts with youthful vigor warm!
In smiling crowds draw near;
And turn from every mortal charm,
A Saviour's voice to hear.
2 He, Lord of all the worlds on high,
Stoops to converse with you;
And lays his radiant glories by,
Your friendship to pursue.
3 The soul, that longs to see his face,
Is sure his love to gain;
And they, who early seek his grace,
Shall never seek in vain.
4 What object, Lord! my soul should move,
If once compared with thee?
What beauty should command my love,
Like what in Christ I see?
5 Away, ye false delusive toys!
Vain tempters of the mind;
'Tis here I fix my lasting choice,
For here, true bliss I find.
8s, 7s and 4.
Children exhorted.
1 CHILDREN! hear the melting story
Of the Lamb that once was slain;
;
"T is the Lord of life and glory;
Shall he plead with you in vain?
Oh! receive him,
And salvation now obtain.
2 Yield no more to sin and folly, So displeasing in his sight;
Jesus loves the pure and holy,
They alone are his delight;
Seek his favor,
And your hearts to him unite. 3 All your sins to him confessing Who is ready to forgive;
Seek the Saviour's richest blessing,
On his precious name believe;
He is waiting,-
Will you not his grace receive?
Children invited to Chris!.
1 CHILDREN! listen to the Lord,
And obey his gracious word;
Seek his face with heart and mind-
Early seek, and you shall find.
2 Sorrowful, your sins confess;
Plead his perfect righteousness;
See the Saviour's bleeding side;-
Come-you will not be denied.
3 For his worship now prepare;
Kneel to him in fervent prayer;
Serve him with a perfect heart;
Never from his ways depart.
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 And shall my guilty fears prevail
To drive me from thy feet?
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