490

W ,

Luke xv. 7-10. L. M. WATTS. THO can describe the joys that rise

1

To see a prodigal return,

To see an heir of glory born ?
2 With joy the Father doth approve

The fruit of His eternal love;
The Son with joy looks down and sees

The purchase of His agonies.
3 The Spirit takes delight to view

The holy soul He formed anew ;
And saints and angels join to sing
The growing empire of their King.

HIS FAITH,

491

NOS

Rom. viii. 1. 112th M. ZINZENDORF.

Translated by J. WESLEY. 1 TOW I have found the ground wherein

Sure iny soul's anchor may remain,The wounds of Jesus, for my sin Before the world's foundation slain; Whose mercy shall unshaken stay,

When heaven and earth are fled away. 2 Father, Thine everlasting grace

Our scanty thought surpasses far:
Thy heart still melts with tenderness;
Thine arms of love still open are,
Returning sinners to receive,

That mercy they may taste and live. 3 O Love, Thou bottomless abyss !

My sins are swallowed up in Thee;
Covered is my unrighteousness,
Nor spot of guilt remains on me,
While Jesus' blood, through earth and skies,

Mercy, free, boundless mercy !" cries.

be gone,

4 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.
5 Though waves and storms go o'er my head,
Though strength, and health, and friends
Though joys be withered all and dead,
Though every comfort be withdrawn,
On this my steadfast soul relies-

Father, Thy mercy never dies.
6 Fixed 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.

492

1 Chron. xvi. 25, 26. L.M. WATTS. 1

To Him that earth's foundation laid ; Praise to the God whose strong decrees

Sway the creation as He please.
2 Praise to the goodness of the Lord,

Who rules His people by His word,
And there, as strong as His decrees,

He sets His kindest proinises.
3 Firm are the words His prophets give,

Sweet words on which His children live: Each of them is the voice of God,

Who spoke, and spread the skies abroad. 4 Each of them powerful as that sound

That bade the new-made world go round;
And stronger than the solid poles
On which the wheel of nature rolls.

5 O for a strong, a lasting faith,

To credit what th' Almighty saith ;
To embrace the message of His Son,

And call the joys of heaven our own. 6 Then should the earth's old pillars shake,

And all the wheels of nature break,
Our steady souls should fear no more

Than solid rocks when billows roar. 7 Our everlasting hopes arise

Above the ruinable skies,
Where th' Eternal Builder reigns,
And His own courts His power sustains,

493 2 Tim. I, 12.

C. M.

WATTS. 1 not ashamed to own my Lord,

Or to defend His cause,
Maintain the honour of His word,

The glory of His cross.
2 Jesus, my God, I know His name,

His name is all my trust;
Nor will He put my soul to shame,

Nor let my hope be lost.
3 Firm as His throne His promise stands,

And He can well secure
What I've committed to His hands

Till the decisive hour.
4 Then ill He own my worthless name

Before His Father's face,
And in the new Jerusalem

Appoint my soul a place.

494 *known:

Rom. xiv. 17. 112th M. C. WESLEY. GOD of our forefathers, hear,

To Thee, through Jesus, we draw near,
Thy suffering, well-beloved Son,
In whom Thy smiling face we see,

In whom Thou art well-pleased with me. 2 With solemn faith we offer up,

And spread before Thy glorious eyes,
That only ground of all our hope,
That precious, bleeding Sacrifice,
Which brings Thy grace on sinners down,

And perfects all our souls in one.
3 Acceptance through His only name,

Forgiveness in His blood, we have;
But more abundant life we claim
Through Him, who died our souls to save,
To sanctify us by His blood,

And fill with all the life of God. 4 Father, behold Thy dying Son,

And hear the blood that speaks above:
On us let all Thy grace be shown :
Peace, righteousness, and joy, and love,
Thy kingdom, come to every heart,
And all Thou hast, and all Thou art !

495

A flame

Heb. xii. 2. L. M. C. WESLEY UTHOR of faith, eternal Word,

1

Faith, like its Finisher and Lord,

To-day as yesterday the same :
2 To Thee our humble hearts aspire,

And ask the gift unspeakable :
Increase in us the kindled fire,

In us the work of faith fulfil.
3 To him that in Thy name believes,

Eternal life with Thee is given;
Into himself he all receives,
Pardon, and holiness, and heaven.