2 Cold, weary, languid, heartless, dead,
To thy dread courts I oft repair;
By conscience dragged, or custom led,
I come; nor know that God is there.
3 O God, thy sovereign aid impart,
And guard the gifts thyself hast given;
My portion thou, my treasure art,
And life, and happiness, and heaven.
4 Would aught with thee my wishes share,
Though dear as life the idol be,
The idol from my breast I'll tear,
Resolved to seek my all from thee.
The Soul returning to God.
1 RETURN, my soul, unto thy rest,
From vain pursuits and maddening cares; From lonely woes that wring thy breast, The world's allurements, toils, and snares.
2 Return unto thy rest, my soul,
From all the wanderings of thy thought;
From sickness unto death made whole;
Safe through a thousand perils brought.
3 Then to thy rest, my soul, return,
From passions every hour at strife;
Sin's works, and ways, and wages spurn;
Lay hold upon eternal life.
4 God is thy rest; - with heart inclined
To keep his word, that word believe:
Christ is thy rest; - with lowly mind,
His light and easy yoke receive.
The Voice of divine Pardon.
1 My Father, let me hear thy voice
Pronounce the words of peace,
And all my warmest powers shall join
To celebrate the grace.
2 With gentle smile call me thy child,
And speak my sins forgiven;
The accents mild shall charm mine ear
All like the harps of heaven.
3 Cheerful, where'er thy hand shall lead,
The darkest path I'll tread;
Cheerful I'll quit these mortal shores,
And mingle with the dead.
4 When dreadful guilt is done away,
No other fears we know;
That hand which scatters pardons down
Shall crowns of life bestow.
Forgiveness of Sin upon Confession.
1 O, BLESSED souls are they
Whose sins are covered o'er!
Divinely blest, to whom the Lord
Imputes their guilt no more!
2 They mourn their follies past,
And keep their hearts with care;
Their lips and lives, without deceit,
Shall prove their faith sincere.
3 While I concealed my guilt,
I felt the festering wound;
Till I confessed my sins to thee,
And ready pardon found.
4 Let sinners learn to pray;
Let saints keep near the throne;
Our help, in times of deep distress,
Is found in God alone.
1 LORD, we have wandered from thy way;
Like foolish sheep have gone astray;
Our pleasant pastures we have left,
And of their Guard our souls bereft.
2 Exposed to want, exposed to harm,
Far from our gentle Shepherd's arm:
Nor will these fatal wanderings cease
Till thou reveal the paths of peace.
3 O, seek thy thoughtless servants, Lord,
Nor let us quite forget thy word;
Our erring feet do thou restore,
And keep us, that we stray no more.
1 TIMES without number have I prayed, "This only once forgive!
Relapsing when thy hand was stayed,
And suffered me to live.
2 Yet now the kingdom of thy peace,
Lord, to my heart restore;
Forgive my vain repentances,
And bid me sin no more.
Preparation of the Heart.
1 LORD, teach us how to pray aright, With reverence and with fear: Though dust and ashes in thy sight, We may, we must, draw near.
2 Burdened with guilt, convinced of sin,
In weakness, want, and woe,
Fightings without, and fears within,
Lord, whither shall we go?
3 God of all grace, we come to thee,
With broken, contrite hearts;
Give what thine eye delights to see,-
Truth in the inward parts;
4 Give deep humility; the sense
Of godly sorrow give;
A strong, desiring confidence,
To hear thy voice and live;
5 Patience to watch, and wait, and weep, Though mercy long delay;
Courage, our fainting souls to keep,
And trust thee, though thou slay.
6 Give these - and then, thy will be done;
Thus strengthened with all might,
We, by thy Spirit and thy Son,
Shall pray, and pray aright.
I will that Men pray every where.
1 THEY who seek the throne of grace
Find that throne in every place ;
If we love a life of prayer,
God is present every where.
2 In our sickness, in our health,
In our want, or in our wealth,
If we look to God in prayer,
God is present every where.
3 When our earthly comforts fail,
When the woes of life prevail,
"Tis the time for earnest prayer;
God is present every where.
4 Then, my soul, in every strait,
To thy Father come, and wait;
He will answer every prayer;
God is present every where.
1 FATHER of all our mercies, thou
In whom we move and live,
Hear us in heaven, thy dwelling, now,
And answer, and forgive.
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