4 E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.

5 Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I'll sing thy power to save,

[tongue

When this poor lisping, stammering Lies silent in the grave.

6 Lord, I believe thou hast prepared,
Unworthy though I be,

For me a blood-bought, free reward,
A golden harp for me.

7 'Tis strung, and tuned for endless years, And formed by power divine,

To sound in God the Father's ears

No other name but thine.

415.

William Cowper, 1779.

C. M.

1 WHEN Wounded sore the stricken soul Lies bleeding and unbound, One only hand, a picrcéd hand,

Can salve the sinner's wound.

2 When sorrow swells the laden breast,
And tears of anguish flow,
One only heart, a broken heart,
Can feel the sinner's woe.

3 When penitence has wept in vain
Over some foul dark spot,
One only stream, a stream of blood,
Can wash away the blot.

4 'Tis Jesus' blood that washes white,
His hand that brings relief,

His heart that's touched with all our joy,
And feeleth for our grief.

5 Lift up thy bleeding hand, O Lord;
Unseal that cleansing tide;

We have no shelter from our sin
But in thy wounded side.

416.

Cecil Frances Alexander, 1858.

1 How is our nature spoiled by sin! Yet nature ne'er hath found

C. M.

The way to make the conscience clean,
Or heal the painful wound.

2 In vain we seek for peace with God
By methods of our own:

Jesus, there's nothing but thy blood
Can bring us near the throne.

3 The threatenings of thy broken law
Impress our souls with dread;
If God his sword of vengeance draw,
It strikes our spirits dead.

4 But thine illustrious sacrifice
Hath answered these demands,
And peace and pardon from the skies
Come down by Jesus' hands.

5 'Tis by thy death we live, O Lord;
'Tis on thy cross we rest;
Forever be thy love adored,
Thy name forever blest.

417.

Isaac Watts, 1721.

C. M.

1 How sad our state by nature is!
Our sin, how deep it stains!

And Satan binds our captive minds
Fast in his slavish chains.

2 But there's a voice of sovereign grace Sounds from the sacred word:

"Ho! ye despairing sinners, come, And trust upon the Lord!"

3 My soul obeys the almighty call,
And runs to this relief;

I would believe thy promise, Lord;
Oh, help my unbelief.

4 To the dear fountain of thy blood,
Incarnate God, I fly;

Here let me wash my spotted soul
From crimes of deepest dye.

5 A guilty, weak, and helpless worm,
On thy kind arms I fall:

Be thou my strength and righteousness,
My Jesus, and my all.

418.

Isaac Watts, 1709.

C. M.

1 PROSTRATE, dear Jesus, at thy feet A guilty rebel lies,

And upward to the mercy-seat

Presumes to lift his eyes.

2 If tears of sorrow would suffice
To pay the debt I owe,

Tears should from both my weeping eyes
In ceaseless torrents flow.

3 But no such sacrifice I plead
To expiate my guilt;

No tears but those which thou hast shed,
No blood but thou hast spilt.

4 Think of thy sorrows, dearest Lord,
And all my sins forgive:

Justice will well approve the word
That bids the sinner live.

419.

Joseph Stennett, 1700.

C. M.

1 O GOD of mercy, hear my call,
My load of guilt remove;
Break down this separating wall
That bars me from thy love.

2 Give me the presence of thy grace;
Then my rejoicing tongue

Shall speak aloud thy righteousness,
And make thy praise my song.

3 No blood of goats, nor heifer slain,
For sin could e'er atone;

The death of Christ shall still remain
Sufficient and alone.

4 A soul oppressed with sin's desert
My God will ne'er despise ;
A humble groan, a broken heart,
Is our best sacrifice.

420.

Isaac Watts, 1719.

C. M.

1 How helpless guilty nature lies,
Unconscious of its load!

The heart, unchanged, can never rise
To happiness and God.

2 Can aught beneath a power divine
The stubborn will subdue?
'Tis thine, almighty Saviour, thine,
To form the heart anew.

3 'Tis thine the passions to recall,
And upward bid them rise,
And make the scales of error fall
From reason's darkened eyes;

4 To chase the shades of death away,
And bid the sinner live;

A beam of heaven, a vital ray, 'Tis thine alone to give.

5 Oh change these wretched hearts of ours, And give them life divine!

Then shall our passions and our powers, Almighty Lord, be thine.

Anne Steele, 1760.

SALVATION,-OF GRACE.

421.

C. M.

1 AMAZING grace! how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

2 'T was grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!

3 Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;

'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.

4 Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

5 The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

422.

John Newton, 1779.

C. M.

1 Not all the outward forms on earth,
Nor rites that God has given,

Nor will of man, nor blood, nor birth,
Can raise a soul to heaven.

2 The sovereign will of God alone
Creates us heirs of grace;

Born in the image of his Son,
A new, peculiar race.