4 Reason I hear, her counsels weigh,
And all her words approve!
But still I find it hard t' obey,
And harder yet to love.

5 How long, my Saviour, shall I feel
These strugglings in my breast?
When wilt thou bow my stubborn will,
And give my conscience rest.

6 Break, sov'reign grace, O break the charm,
And set the captive free:
Reveal, Almighty God, thine arm,
And haste to rescue me.

351. Indwelling Sin Confessed. L.M.

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in sin did my mother conceive me.-PSALM li. 5.

1 LORD, I am vile, conceiv'd in sin;
And born unholy and unclean;
Sprung from the man whose guilty fall
Corrupts the race, and taints us all.

2 Soon as we draw our infant breath,
The seeds of sin grow up for death:
Thy law demands a perfect heart;
But we're defil'd in ev'ry part.

3 Great God, create my heart anew,
And form my spirit pure and true :
O make me wise betimes, to spy
My danger and my remedy.

4 Behold I fall before thy face; My only refuge is thy grace:

No outward forms can make me clean;
The leprosy lies deep within.

5 Jesus, my God, thy blood alone
Hath pow'r sufficient to atone :

Thy blood can make me white as snow :
0 may I all its virtue know.

6 Let me now hear thy pard'ning voice,
And make my troubled soul rejoice!
Then all my pow'rs shall join to bless
The Lord, my strength and righteousness.

1

2

[3

352. Indwelling Sin Lamented. S.M.

Behold, I am vile.-JOB. xl. 5.

O LORD, how vile am I,

Unholy and unclean !

How can I dare to venture nigh
With such a load of sin?

Is this polluted heart

A dwelling fit for thee ?

Swarming, alas! in every part,

What evils do I see!

If I attempt to pray,

And lisp thy holy name,

My thoughts are hurried soon away,
I know not where I am.

4

5

6

If in thy word I look,

Such darkness fills my mind;

I only read a sealed book,

But no relief can find.

Thy gospel oft I hear,

But hear it still in vain ;
I seem to have no love, or fear,
And like a stone remain.]

Myself can hardly bear

This wretched heart of mine;
How hateful, then, must it appear,
To those pure hearts of thine.

7 And must I, then, indeed
Sink in despair and die?

Fain would I hope that thou did'st bleed
For such a wretch as I.

8 That blood, which thou has spilt,
That grace, which is thine own,
Can cleanse the vilest sinner's guilt,
And soften hearts of stone.

9

Low at thy feet, I bow :

O pity and forgive:

Here will I lie, and wait till thou
Shalt bid me-rise and live.

353. Mourning under the Hiding of God's Countenance. C.M.

How long, Lord? Wilt thou hide thyself for ever? -PSALM 1Xxxix. 46.

1 REJOICE in God, the word commands,

Yet still my spirit lingering stands,
While doubts impede my way.

2 How can my soul exult for joy,
Which feels this load of sin ?
And how can praise my tongue employ,
While darkness reigns within ?

3 My soul forgets to use her wings;
My harp neglected lies,

For sin has broken all its strings,
And guilt shuts out my joys.

4 The power, the sweetness of thy voice,
Alone my heart can move;
Make me in Christ, my Lord, rejoice,
And melt my soul to love.

354. Pleading. 8—8—7.

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.—Mic. vii. 18.

1 O JESUS, let me bless thy name!
All sin, alas! thou know'st I am;
But thou all pity art:

Take, take away this heart of stone;
Such power belongs to thee alone:
O give the contrite heart.

2 A poor, ungrateful wretch, to thee
For help against myself I flee;

O let thy grace be giv'n;
Thou only canst my sins remove,
Fill me with holiness and love,
And fit my soul for heav'n.

3 Then let thy Spirit shed abroad
The love, the wondrous love of God,
In this cold heart.of mine:
O may he now descend and rest,
And dwell for ever in my breast,
And make it wholly thine.

4 What shall I plead my suit to gain?
O Lamb of God, for sinners slain,
I plead what thou hast done :
Didst thou not die the death for me?
Jesu, remember Calvary,

And take me for thine own.

5 Take the dear purchase of thy blood,
My Friend, my Advocate with God,
My Ransom and my Peace!
Surety, who all my debt hast paid,
For all my sins atonement made,
The Lord my Righteousness!

355. Pleading the Atonement. 7s.

Behold, O God, our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.-PSALM lxxxiv. 9.

1 FATHER, God, who seest in me,

Only sin and misery,