5

Oh wash my soul from every stain,
Nor let the guilt I mourn remain ;
Give me to hear thy pardoning voice,
And bid my trembling heart rejoice!

320.

Supplication of Divine Mercy.

1

WHEN rising from the bed of death,
O'erwhelm'd with guilt and fear,
I see my Maker face to face,
Oh how shall I appear!

2

If yet, while pardon may be found,
And mercy may be sought,
My heart with inward horror shrinks,
And trembles at the thought;

3

When thou, O Lord, shalt stand disclos'd

In majesty severe,

And sit in judgment on my soul,

Oh how shall I appear!

4

But there's forgiveness, Lord, with thee;

Thy nature is benign;

Thy pardoning mercy I implore,

For mercy, Lord, is thine.

5

Oh let thy boundless mercy shine
On my benighted soul;

Correct my passions, mend my heart,

And all my fears control!

And

6

may I taste thy richer grace

In that decisive hour,

When Christ to judgment shall descend,

And time shall be no more.

321.

Hope and Supplication after Despair.

1

RISE, O my soul, the hours review,
When, awed by guilt and fear,
Thou durst not heaven for mercy sue,
Nor hope for pity here.

2

Dried are thy tears; thy griefs are fled;
Dispell'd each bitter care :
See! heaven itself hath lent its aid
To raise thee from despair.

3

Here then, O God, thy work fulfil !
And from thy mercy's throne,
Vouchsafe me strength to do thy will,
And to resist my own.

4

So shall my soul each power employ,
Thy mercies to adore :

While heaven itself proclaims with joy
One pardon'd sinner more.

322.

The Barren Fig-Tree.-Luke xiii. 3—9.

I

SEE, in the vineyard of the Lord,
A barren fig-tree stand!

It yields no fruit, no blossom bears,
Though planted by his hand.

From year to year he seeks for fruit,
And still no fruit is found:
It stands among the living trees,
Encumbering the ground.

3

But, lo! the gracious Saviour pleads— The barren fig-tree spare:

In mercy stay the threatening hand,
And grant another year.

Perhaps some means of grace, untried,
May reach the stony heart;

Or the soft dews of heavenly love
May heavenly life impart

5

But if all means should prove in vain, And still no fruit appear, Then mercy may no longer plead, Nor ask another year.'

323.

Penitential Review of past Instability and of God's Mercy.

1

OFT, Gracious Father, have I been,
Just like a burning brand,

Snatch'd from the fierce surrounding flame
By thine indulgent hand.

2

But have I learn'd thy name to fear,
Thy mercy to improve?

Have I been drawn to keep thy laws,
By all these cords of love?

3

Or when, as in this hour, I've mourn'd
My sins, and pardon pray'd,
Have I not soon forgot my vows,
And from my duty stray'd?

4

Too deeply conscious, though again
My suppliant eyes I raise,
Shouldst thou refuse the help I ask,
I justify thy ways.

5

But, O thou God of perfect grace,
Here all my comfort lies-

The truly broken, contrite heart,
Thou never wilt despise.

6

And, while in this eternal truth
My only hope I find,

Let the blest hope I wish to form,
To faithful duty bind.

324.

The Past not Improved.

1

As o'er the past my memory strays,
Why heaves the secret sigh?
'Tis that I mourn departed days,
Still unprepar❜d to die.

2

The world and worldly things belov'd,
My anxious thoughts employ'd;
And time unhallow'd, unimprov'd,
Presents a fearful void.

3

Yet, Heavenly Father, wild despair
Chase from my labouring breast:
Thy grace it is that prompts the prayer;
Thy grace can do the rest.

4

My life's brief remnant all be thine;
And when thy sure decree

Bids me this fleeting breath resign,

Oh take my soul to thee!

325.

The Lapse of Time: for an Anniversary.

1

REMARK, my soul, the narrow bounds
Of the revolving year!

How soon the weeks complete their rounds,
How short the months appear!

2

Much of my dubious life is past,

Nor will return again :

How swift the fleeting moments haste,
How few may now remain !

3

Rise, then, my soul, with studious care,
Thy true condition learn

;

What grounds of hope for thee there are,
And what's thy first concern.

4

Great God! awake this trifling heart,
My real state to see;

That I may choose the better part,
And yield myself to thee.

5

Then shall their course more grateful roll,

If future years arise;

Or this secure thee, O my soul,

The joy that never dies.

326.

Reflections on the Circumstances of the past Year.

1

MARK how the swift-wing'd minutes fly,
And hours still hasten on!

How swift the circling months run round!
How soon the year is gone!

2

Let me indulge the serious thought;

The year that's past review; What good, what evil, have I done? What work have I to do?

3

How is my debt of love increas'd
To that sustaining Power,

Who hath upheld my feeble frame,
And brought me to this hour.