HOU gracious Author of our days,
Oh! may Thine ear be bent,
Unto the mournful prayer we raise
In this our fast of Lent.
Thou, the heart-searching GOD, must know
How vile and weak are we;
But, LORD, do Thou Thy Mercy show,
And draw us back to Thee.
Great is our sin, and great our shame,
But, oh! do Thou forgive;
Help, for the glory of Thy Name,
And let poor sinners live.
Oh! may our outward abstinence
Have such effect within,
That we may rescue every sense
From every stain of sin.
Blest THREE IN ONE, with grief sincere,
To Thee we humbly pray,
That fruits of mercy may appear
To bless this fasting-day. Amen.
When Thou seest me waver,
With a look recal,
Nor, for fear or favour,
Suffer me to fall.
With its witching pleasures,
Would this vain world charm ;
Or its sordid treasures
Spread, to work me harm;
Bring to my remembrance
Sad Gethsemane,
Or, in darker semblance,
Cross-crowned Calvary.
If with sore affliction
Thou in love chastise ;
Pour Thy Benediction
On the sacrifice;
Then, upon Thine altar,
Freely offered up,
Though the flesh may falter,
Faith shall drink the cup.
When in dust and ashes,
To the grave I sink,
While Heaven's glory flashes
O'er the shelving brink;
On Thy Truth relying,
Through the mortal strife,
LORD, receive me dying,
To eternal Life! Amen.
LORD, when condemnation
And guilt oppress my soul,
Then let Thy bitter Passion
The rising storm control:
Remind me that Thy Blood was spilt
For me, oh, most unworthy!
To take away my guilt.
Oh, wonder beyond measure
To faith's enlightened eye!
For slaves it was the pleasure
Of their own LORD to die!
The Mighty GOD stoops from on high
For me, lost, ruined creature,
And deigns as Man to die.
LORD, let Thy bitter Passion
My soul with strength inspire
To flee with indignation
Each sinful, low desire :
Ah! never would I, LORD, forget
The greatness of that Ransom
Which paid my endless debt.
Should earthly griefs assail me,
If need be, shame and scorn,
Let patience never fail me
To bear as Thou hast borne ;
Grant that the world I
And Thee for my example
Oh! may I daily take.
Henceforth my heart shall bless Thee,
Whilst here its pulses move;
Its songs of praise address Thee
For all Thy dying Love;
Thy Wrongs and last deep Agony
Shall be my meditation
Till I am call'd to Thee. Amen.
OW my soul, thy voice upraising, Sing the Cross in mournful strain! Tell the Sorrows all-amazing, Tell the Wounds, the dying Pain, Which our SAVIOUR
Sinless bore, for sinners slain.
He, the cruel Scourge enduring,
Ransom for our sins to pay,
By His Stripes transgressors curing,
Raising those who wounded lay,
Bore our sorrows,
And removed our pains away.
He to freedom hath restored us
By the very Bonds He bare; His nail-pierced Limbs afford us Each a stream of mercy rare : Nail'd, He draws us
To the Cross, and keeps us there.
When His painful Life was ended, From that fount, His wounded Side, Blood and Water straight descended, Each a sacramental tide ;
One to cleanse us,
One to feed our souls applied.
JESU! may Thy promised Blessing
Comfort to our souls afford;
May we, now Thy Love possessing,
And at length our full Reward,
Ever praise Thee,
Thee, our ever-glorious LORD! Amen.
SINNER, lift the eye of faith,
To true repentance turning;
Bethink thee of the curse of sin,
Its awful guilt discerning;
Upon the Crucified One look,
And thou shalt read, as in a book,
What well is worth thy learning.
Look on His Head, that bleeding Head,
With Crown of thorns surrounded;
Look on His sacred Hands and Feet
Which piercing nails have wounded:
See every
Limb with scourges rent:
On Him the Just, the Innocent,
What malice hath abounded!
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