e 5 But now-when ev'ning shade prevails, My soul in darkness mourns:
And when the morn the light reveals, No light to me returns.
6 My prayers are now a chatt'ring noise, For Jesus hides his face;
I read-the promise meets my eyes— But will not reach my case.
-7 Rise, Lord, and help me to prevail- O make my soul thy care;
o I know thy mercy cannot fail; Let me that mercy share.
HYMN 53. 8s. Bethany. [b] Faith fainting.
NCOMPASS'D with clouds of distress, Just ready all hope to resign,
I pant for the light of thy face, And fear it will never be mine: p Dishearten'd with waiting so long, I sink at thy feet with my load; All-plaintive I pour out my song, And stretch forth my hands unto God. -2 Shine, Lord, and my terrour shall cease; The blood of atonement apply;
And lead me to Jesus for peace,The rock that is higher than I: Speak, Saviour, for sweet is thy voice; Thy presence is fair to behold; -Attend to my sorrows and cries,e My groanings that cannot be told. -3 If sometimes I strive, as I mourn, My hold on thy promise to keep; o The billows more fiercely return, And plunge me again in the deep. -While harass'd and cast from thy sight, The tempter suggests, with a roar, d 'The Lord has forsaken thee quite; 'Thy God will be gracious no more.' e 4 Yet, Lord, if thy love has design'd No covenant blessing for me, Ah, tell me, how is it I find Some pleasure in waiting for thee?
• Almighty to rescue thou art;
Thy grace is my shield and my tower: o Come, succour and gladden my heart,
Let this be the day of thy power. Rippon's Col. HYMN 54. 7s. Fairfax. [b]
NIS a point I long to know,- Oft it causes anxious thought:
e Do I love the Lord, or no? Am I his, or am I not?
2 If I love, why am I thus? Why this dull, this lifeless frame? Hardly, sure, can they be worse, Who have never heard his name.. 3 Could my heart so hard remain, Prayer a task and burden prove- Ev'ry trifle give me pain- If I knew a Saviour's love? e 4 When I turn my eyes within, All is dark, and vain, and wild; Fill'd with unbelief and sin- Can I deem myself a child? 5 If I pray, or hear, or read, Sin is mix'd with all I do; d You, who love the Lord indeed, Tell me is it so with you? o 6 Yet I mourn my stubborn will, Find any sin a grief and thrall; Should I grieve for what I feel, If I did not love at all!
7 Could I joy his saints to meet, Choose the ways I once abhorr'd- Find, at times, the promise sweet, If I did not love the Lord?
-8 Lord, decide the doubtful case! Thou, who art thy people's sun, Shine upon thy work of grace, If it be indeed begun.
9 Let me love thee more and more, If I love at all, I pray; If I have not lov'd before, Help me to begin to-day.
HYMN 55. 8s. Consolation. [*]
The Holy Spirit addressed under Darkness. ESCEND, Holy Spirit, the Dove, And visit a sorrowful breast; e My burden of guilt to remove, And bring me assurance and rest; Thou only hast power to relieve A sinner o'erwhelm'd with his load; The sense of redemption to give, And sprinkle his heart with the blood. 2 With me, if of old thou hast strove, And kindly withheld me from sin; Resolv'd, by the strength of thy love, My worthless affections to win; The work of thy mercy revive, Invincible mercy exert,
And keep my weak graces alive, And set up thy rest in my heart. 3 If, when I have put thee to grief, And madly to folly return'd, Thy goodness has been my relief, And lifted me up as I mourn'd; O Spirit of pity and grace, Relieve me again and restore; My spirit in holiness raise,
To fall, and to grieve thee, no more. e 4 If now I lament after God,
And pant for a taste of his lovee If Jesus, who pour'd out his blood, Obtain'd me a mansion above;o Come, heavenly Comforter, come, Sweet witness of mercy divine! • And make me thy permanent home, And seal me eternally thine.
HYMN 56. L. M. Sicilian. [b*] Prayer answered by Crosses.
ASK'D the Lord that I might grow In faith, and love, and every grace; Might more of his salvation know, And seek more earnestly his face. 2. 'Twas he who taught me thus to pray, And he, I trust, has answer'd prayer;
But it has been in such a way, As almost drove me to despair.
3 I hop'd that in some favour'd hour, At once he'd answer my request; And by his love's constraining power, Subdue my sins, and give me rest. e 4 Instead of this, he made me feel The hidden evils of my heart; And let the angry powers of hell Assault my soul in ev'ry part.
a 5 Yea, more with his own hand he seem'd Intent to aggravate my wo
Cross'd all the fair designs I schem❜d, Blasted my gourds, and laid me low. e 6 Lord, why is this? I trembling cry'd, Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death? d "Tis in this way (the Lord reply'd,) 'I answer prayer for grace and faith. 7 'These inward trials I employ, 'From self and pride to set thee free, 'And break thy schemes of earthly joy, 'That thou may'st seek thy all in me.' Newton.
HYMN 57. L. M. Pleyel's. [*]
Inconstancy lamented.
EAR Jesus, when, when shall it be, That I no more shall break with thee?
When will this war of passion cease, And I enjoy a lasting peace?
e 2 Here I repent, and sin again,
Sometimes revive, sometimes am slain; Slain with the same malignant dart, Which, oh! too often wounds my heart. -3 When, gracious Lord, when shall it be, That I shall find my all in thee-
o The fulness of thy promise prove,
And feast on thine eternal love? Dorrington.
HYMN 58. L. M. Bath. [b*]
Conflict between Sin and Holiness. Gal. v, 17. THAT jarring natures dwell within- Imperfect grace, remaining sin!
Not this can reign, nor that prevail, Though each by turns my heart assail. e 2 Now I complain, and groan, and die— o Now raise my songs of triumph high; o Sing a rebellious passion slain,
e Or mourn to feel it live again. o 3 One happy hour beholds me rise, Borne upwards to my native skies; When faith assists my soaring flight, To realms of joy, and worlds of light. e 4 Scarce a few hours or minutes roll, Ere earth reclaims my captive soul; -I feel its sympathetic force,
And headlong urge my downward course. e 5 How short the joys thy visits give! How long thine absence, Lord, I grieve! What clouds obscure my rising sun, Or interrupt its rays at noon!
-6 Great God, assist me through the fight; Make me to triumph in thy might: Thou the desponding heart canst raise; The vict'ry mine, and thine the praise.
HYMN 59. C. M. Tunbridge. [*] Watchfulness and Prayer.
e 1 ALAS, what hourly dangers rise!
What snares beset my way!
-To heaven then let me lift my eyes, And hourly watch and pray.
p 2 How oft my mournful thoughts complain, And meit in flowing tears!
e My weak resistance, ah, how vain! How strong my foes and fears!
-3 O gracious God, in whom I live, My feeble efforts aid;
Help me to watch, and pray, and strive, Though trembling and afraid.
-4 Increase my faith, increase my hope, When foes and fears prevail: And bear my fainting spirit up, Or soon my strength will fail.
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