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.
482 The things which He suffered.-Heb. v. 8.
AVIOUR, when in dust to Thee
Low we bend the adoring knee;
When, repentant, to the skies
Scarce we lift our weeping eyes;
O! by all the pains and woe,
Suffered once for man below,
Bending from Thy Throne on high,
Hear our solemn Litany.
2 By Thy helpless infant years,
By Thy life of want and tears,
By Thy days of sore distress
In the savage wilderness,
By the dread mysterious hour
Of the insulting tempter's power;
Turn, oh! turn a favouring eye,
Hear our solemn Litany.
3 By the sacred grief that wept
O'er the grave where Lazarus slept;
By the boding tears that flowed
Over Salem's loved abode;
By the anguished sigh that told
Treachery lurked within Thy fold;
From Thy seat above the sky,
Hear our solemn Litany.
4 By Thine hour of dire despair,
By Thine agony of prayer;
By the cross, the nail, the thorn,
Piercing spear and torturing scorn;
By the gloom that veiled the skies
O'er the dreadful sacrifice,
Listen to our humble cry;
Hear our solemn Litany.
5 By Thy deep expiring groan;
By the sad sepulchral stone;
By the vault whose dark abode
Held in vain the rising God;
Oh! from earth to heaven restored,
Mighty re-ascended Lord,
Listen, listen to the cry
Of our solemn Litany.
HY sovereign grace and boundless love
Make Thee, O Lord, forgiving;
My purest thoughts and deeds but prove
Sin in my heart is living;
None guiltless in Thy sight appear,
All who approach Thy throne must fear,
And humbly trust Thy mercy.
2 Thou canst be merciful while just,
This is my hope's foundation;
On Thy redeeming grace I trust,
Grant me, then, Thy salvation;
Shielded by Thee I stand secure,
Thy word is firm, Thy promise sure,
And I rely upon Thee.
3 Like those who watch for midnight's hour
To hail the dawning morrow,
I wait for Thee, I trust Thy power,
Unmoved by doubt or sorrow.
So thus let Israel hope in thee,
And he shall find Thy mercy free,
And Thy redemption plenteous.
4 Where'er the greatest sins abound,
By grace they are exceeded;
Thy helping hand is always found
With aid, where aid is needed;
Thy hand, the only hand to save,
Will rescue Israel from the grave,
And pardon His transgression.
484 A broken and a contrite heart, O Lord, Thou
wilt not despise.—Psalm li. 17.
EAR Lord, accept a sinful heart,
Which of itself complains,
And mourns, with much and frequent smart,
The evil it contains.
2 How eager are my thoughts to roam
In quest of what they love!
But, ah! when duty calls them home,
How heavily they move.
3 O cleanse me in the Saviour's blood;
Transform me by Thy power;
And make me Thy beloved abode,
And let me roam no more.
485 Forgive us our debts, as we forgive.
ATHER, to Thy sinful child
Though Thy law is reconciled,
By Thy pardoning grace I live ;
Daily still I cry, Forgive.
2 Though my ransom-price He paid
Upon whom my guilt was laid,
Humbly at Thy mercy-seat,
Full remission I entreat.
3 Lord, forgive me, day by day,
Debts I cannot hope to pay,
Duties I have left undone,
Evils I have failed to shun;
4 Trespasses in word or thought ;
Deeds from evil motive wrought;
Cold ingratitude, distrust;
Thoughts unhallowed and unjust.
5 Gracious Lord, and are there those
Who my debtors are, or foes?
I, who by forgiveness live,
Here their trespasses forgive.
6 Much forgiven, may I learn
Love for hatred to return;
Then assured my heart shall be,
Thou, my God, hast pardoned me.
486 They...first gave their ownselves to the Lord.
HAPPY day that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Saviour and my God;
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.
2 'Tis done, the great transaction's done;
I am my Lord's, and He is mine;
He drew me, and I followed on,
Glad to confess the voice divine.
3 Now rest, my long-divided heart;
Fixed on this blissful centre, rest.
With ashes who would grudge to part,
When called on angel's bread to feast?
4 High heaven, that heard the solemn vow,
That vow renewed shall daily hear;
Till in life's latest hour I bow,
And bless in death a bond so dear.
487 He abideth faithful.—2 Timothy ii. 13.
dearly, Lord, hast Thou redeemed
Not somewhat to be loved;
Thy grace hath too divinely streamed
To leave my soul unmoved.
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