O Love! Thou bottomless abyss !
My sins are swallow'd up in thee:
Cover'd is my unrighteousness,
Nor spot of guilt remains on me :
While Jesus' Blood, through earth and skies,
Mercy, free boundless mercy, cries!
With faith I plunge me in this sea;
Here is my hope, my joy, my rest;
Hither, when hell assails, I flee,
I look into my Saviour's breast:
Away, sad doubt, and anxious fear!
Mercy is all that's written there!
Though waves and storms go o'er my head;
Though strength, and health, and friends be gone; Though joys be wither'd all and dead;
Though every comfort be withdrawn ;
On this my steadfast soul relies ;
Father! Thy mercy never dies.
Fix'd on this ground will I remain,
Though my heart fail and flesh decay;
This anchor shall my soul sustain,
When earth's foundations melt away :
Mercy's full power I then shall prove,
Loved with an everlasting love.
John Wesley. 1740.
From 7. A. Rothe.)
O Thou, the contrite sinners' Friend,
Who loving, lov'st them to the end,
On this alone my hopes depend,
That Thou wilt plead for me!
When, weary in the Christian race,
Far off appears my resting-place,
And fainting I mistrust Thy grace,
Then, Saviour, plead for me!
When I have err'd and gone astray
Afar from Thine and Wisdom's way,
And see no glimmering guiding ray,
Still, Saviour, plead for me!
When Satan, by my sins made bold,
Strives from Thy cross to loose my hold,
Then with Thy pitying arms enfold,
And plead, O plead for me!
And when my dying hour draws near,
Darken'd with anguish, guilt, and fear,
Then to my fainting sight appear,
Pleading in Heaven for me!
When the full light of heavenly day
Reveals my sins in dread array,
Say Thou hast wash'd them all away;
O say, Thou plead'st for me!
Charlotte Elliott. [1837.]
O Holy Saviour, Friend unseen,
The faint, the weak, on Thee may lean :
Help me, throughout life's varying scene,
By faith to cling to Thee!
Blest with communion so Divine,
Take what Thou wilt, shall I repine,
When, as the branches to the vine,
My soul may cling to Thee?
Far from her home, fatigued, opprest,
Here she has found a place of rest,
An exile still, yet not unblest
While she can cling to Thee!
Without a murmur I dismiss
My former dreams of earthly bliss;
My joy, my recompense be this,
Each hour to cling to Thee!
What though the world deceitful prove,
And earthly friends and joys remove?
With patient uncomplaining love
Still would I cling to Thee!
Oft when I seem to tread alone
Some barren waste with thorns o'ergrown,
A voice of love, in gentlest tone,
Whispers, "Still cling to Me!"
Though faith and hope awhile be tried,
I ask not, need not, aught beside :
How safe, how calm, how satisfied,
The souls that cling to Thee!
They fear not life's rough storms to brave, Since Thou art near, and strong to save; Nor shudder e'en at death's dark wave; Because they cling to Thee!
Blest is my lot, whate'er befal :
What can disturb me, who appal,
While, as my strength, my rock, my all,
Saviour! I cling to Thee?
Jesu, my strength, my hope,
On Thee I cast my care,
With humble confidence look up,
And know, Thou hear'st my prayer.
Give me on Thee to wait
Till I can all things do,
On Thee, Almighty to create !
Almighty to renew !
I want a sober mind,
A self-renouncing will,
That tramples down and casts behind The baits of pleasing ill:
A soul inured to pain,
To hardship, grief, and loss; Bold to take up, firm to sustain,
The consecrated cross.
I want a godly fear,
A quick-discerning eye,
That looks to Thee when sin is near, And sees the Tempter fly;
A spirit still prepared,
And arm'd with jealous care,
For ever standing on its guard,
And watching unto prayer.
I want a heart to pray,
To pray and never cease,
Never to murmur at Thy stay,
Or wish my sufferings less;
This blessing, above all,
Always to pray, I want,
Out of the deep on Thee to call,
And never, never faint.
I want a true regard,
A single, steady aim,
Unmov'd by threat'ning or reward,
To Thee and Thy great Name;
A jealous, just concern
For Thine immortal praise;
A pure desire that all may learn
And glorify Thy grace.
I rest upon Thy word;
Thy promise is for me;
My succour and salvation, Lord,
Shall surely come from Thee.
But let me still abide,
Nor from my hope remove,
Till Thou my patient spirit guide
Into Thy perfect love!
"If ye love Me, keep My commandments."
Jesus, my all, to Heaven is gone ;
He that I placed my hopes upon;
His track I see; and I'll pursue
The narrow way, till Him I view.
The way the holy Prophets went,
The way that leads from banishment,
The King's high-way of holiness,
I'll go; for all the paths are peace.
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