281

78.

WELCOME, welcome! sinner, hear!

Hang not back through shame or
fear;

Doubt not, nor distrust the call;
Mercy is proclaimed to all.

2 Welcome to the offered peace;
Welcome, prisoner, to release;

Burst thy bonds; be saved; be free;
Rise and come- He calleth thee.

3 Welcome, weeping penitent ;
Grace has made thy heart relent;
Welcome, long estrangèd child;
God in Christ is reconciled.
4 All ye weary and distrest,
Welcome to relief and rest!
All is ready hear the call,
There is ample room for all.

5 O the virtue of that price,
That redeeming sacrifice!

Come, ye bought, but not with gold;
Welcome to the sacred fold!

282

WE

J. CONDER.

7s.

HAT could your Redeemer do, More than He hath done for you? To procure your peace with God, Could He more than shed His blood? If your death were His delight, Would He you to life invite?

Would He ask, beseech, and cry,
'Why will you resolve to die?"

66

2 Sinners, turn, while God is near: Dare not think Him insincere :

3

Now, even now, your Saviour stands ;
All day long He spreads His hands,
Cries, "Ye will not happy be!
No, ye will not come to Me!
Me, who life to none deny;
Why will you resolve to die?"

Can ye doubt if God is love,
If to all His mercies move?

Will ye not His word receive?
Will ye not His oath believe?
See! your suffering Lord appears!
Jesus weeps!-believe His tears!
Mingled with His blood, they cry,
"Why will you resolve to die?"

Has lost a straying sheep,

Through vales, o'er hills, he anxious roves, And climbs the mountain's steep.

2 But O the joy, the transport sweet,
When he the wanderer finds!

Up in his arms he takes his charge,
And to his shoulder binds.

3 Homeward he hastes to tell his joys,
And make his bliss complete :
The neighbours hear the news, and all
The joyful shepherd greet.

4 Yet how much greater is the joy
When but one sinner turns,
And with a humble, broken heart,
His sins and errors mourns!

5 Pleased with the news, the saints below
In songs their tongues employ ;
Beyond the skies the tidings go,
And heaven is filled with joy.

6 Angels rejoice in louder strains,
And seraphs feel new fire;
"A sinner lost is found," they sing,
And strike the sounding lyre.

J. NEEDHAM.

S.M.

284

YE

E heavy-laden souls,

With guilt and fear opprest,

Come! for the great Redeemer calls,
And calls to give you rest.

When did He shut a sinner out
That ever came to Him?

4

5

He stands with open arms,
Inviting sinners home;

His voice contains a thousand charms,
And every charm says, 'Come!'

Come, then, without delay,
And enter into rest;

With gratitude His voice obey,
And be for ever blest!

285

S. DEACON.

C.M.

Yehold a royal feast!

E wretched, hungry, starving poor,

Where mercy spreads her bounteous store For every humble guest.

2 See Jesus stands with open arms,
He calls, He bids you come;

Guilt holds you back, and fear alarms,
But see, there yet is room :-

3 Room in the Saviour's bleeding heart;
There love and pity meet;

Nor will He bid the soul depart
That trembles at His feet.

4 O come! and with His children taste
The blessings of His love;

While hope attends the sweet repast
Of nobler joys above.

5 There, with united heart and voice,
Before the eternal throne,

Ten thousand thousand souls rejoice,
In ecstasies unknown.

6 And yet ten thousand thousand more
Are welcome still to come:
Ye longing souls, the grace adore :
Approach, there yet is room!

A. STEELE.

The Christian Life.

286

PENITENCE.

COME, let us to the Lord our God

With contrite hearts return;

Our God is gracious, nor will leave
The desolate to mourn.

C.M.

2 His voice commands the tempest forth, And stills the stormy wave;

And though His arm be strong to smite, "Tis also strong to save.

3 Long hath the night of sorrow reigned;
The dawn shall bring us light;
God shall appear, and we shall rise
With gladness in His sight.

4 Our hearts, if God we seek to know,
Shall know Him and rejoice;
His coming like the morn shall be,
Like morning songs His voice.

5 So shall His presence bless our souls,
And shed a joyful light;