5 Come, all ye vilest sinners, come,
He'll form your souls anew:
His gospel and his heart have room
For rebels such as you.
6 His doctrine is almighty love;
There's virtue in his name
To turn the raven to a dove,
The lion to a lamb.
L.M.-The Gospel Invitation. Isa. lv. 1-4.
1 HO! every one that thirsts, draw nigh; ('Tis God invites the fallen race;) Mercy and free salvation buy;
Buy wine, and milk, and gospel-grace.
2" Come, to the living waters, come;
Sinners, obey your Maker's call;
Return ye weary wanderers home,
And find my grace is free for all.
3See from the rock a fountain rise!
For you in healing streams it rolls:
Money ye need not bring, nor price,
Ye labouring, burden'd, sin-sick souls.
Nothing ye in exchange shall give,
Leave all you have, and are, behind:
Frankly the gift of God receive,
Pardon and peace in Jesus find.
5 " Why seek ye that which is not bread,
Nor can your hungry souls sustain?
On ashes, husks, and air ye feed;
Ye spend your little all in vain.
6 "In search of empty toys below,
Ye toil with unavailing strife:
Whither, ah! whither would you go?
I have the words of endless life.
7" Hearken to me with earnest care,
And freely eat substantial food;
The sweetness of my mercy share,
And taste that I alone am good.
8 "I bid you all my goodness prove,
My promises for all are free;
Come taste the manna of my love,
And let your souls delight in me.
9 Your willing ear and heart incline,
My words with faith and joy receive;
Quicken'd your souls by grace divine,
An everlasting life shall live.
P.M.-Sinners invited to Christ.
1 COME ye sinners, poor and wretched,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore,'
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity join'd with power;
He is able,
He is willing: doubt no more.
2 Come ye thirsty, come and welcome;
God's free bounty glorify:
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings us nigh,
Without money,
Come to Jesus Christ and buy.
3 Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness he requireth
Is, to feel your need of him;
This he gives you,
'Tis the Spirit's rising beam.
4 Come ye weary heavy laden,
Bruis'd and mangled by the Fall!
If you tarry till you're better,
You will never come at all;
Not the righteous-
Sinners Jesus came to call.
5 View him prostrate in the garden;
On the ground your Saviour lies!
On the bloody tree behold him;
Hear him cry before he dies,
"It is finish'd!"
Sinners, will not this suffice?
6 Lo! the incarnate God ascended,
Pleads the merit of his blood:
Venture on him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude:
None but Jesus
Can do helpless sinners good.
7 Saints and angels, join'd in concert,
Sing the praises of the Lamb;
While the blissful seats of heaven
Sweetly echo with his name:
Hallelujah!
Sinners here may sing the same.
L.M.-The Gospel first preached at Jerusalem. Luke xxiv. 47. 1 "GO (saith the Lord) proclaim my grace, "To all the sons of Adam's race,
"Pardon for every crimson sin, "And at Jerusalem begin.
2 "There, where my blood, not fully dry, "Stands warm upon Mount Calvary; "That blood shall purge away their guilt, By whom so lately it was spilt.
3" Now let the daring rebels turn,
"And o'er their bleeding Sovereign mourn; "Their bleeding Sovereign shall forgive, "And bid the rebels look and live. 4 Is this thy voice, all-gracious Lord? And did the rebels hear thy word? And did they fall beneath thy feet, And on their knees forgiveness meet? 5 Then may I hope for mercy too; Such love can my hard heart subdue, And give this guilty soul a place, Among these captives of thy grace. 6 Here be it daily mine employ
To bathe thy wounds with tears of joy,
Till 'midst the new Jerusalem
In one full choir we sing thy name.
L.M.-"Behold I stand at the door and knock." Rev. iii. 20.
1 BEHOLD a stranger's at the door!
He gently knocks, has knock'd before:
Has waited long, is waiting still,
You use no other friend so ill.
2 But will he prove a friend indeed?
He will,- the very friend you need;
The man of Nazareth, 'tis He,
With garments dyed at Calvary.
3 Oh, lovely attitude! he stands
With melting heart and laden hands;
Oh, matchless kindness! and he shows
This matchless kindness to his foes.
4 Rise, touch'd with gratitude divine,
Turn out his enemy and thine;
Turn out that hateful monster, sin,
And let the heavenly stranger in.
5 Yet know, nor of the terms complain:
Where Jesus comes, he comes to reign;
To reign, and with no partial sway:
Thoughts must be slain that disobey.
6 Sovereign of souls! thou Prince of Peace!
O may thy gentle reign increase!
Throw wide the door, each willing mind,
And be his empire ALL MANKIND!
C.M.-" Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Rev. iii, 20.
1 COME let us who in Christ believe,
Our common Saviour praise;
To him with joyful voices give
The glory of his grace.
2 He now stands knocking at the door
Of every sinner's heart;
The worst need keep him out no more,
Nor force him to depart.
3 Through grace we hearken to thy voice,
Yield to be sav'd from sin;
In sure and certain hope rejoice,
That thou wilt enter in.
4 Come quickly in, thou heavenly guest,
Nor ever hence remove;
But sup with us, and let the feast
Be everlasting love.
C.M.-The Sower. Matt. xiii. 3.
1 YE sons of earth, prepare the plough,
Break up your fallow ground!
The sower is gone forth to sow,
And scatter blessings round.
2 The seed that finds a stony soil
Shoots forth a hasty blade;
But ill repays the sower's toil,
Soon wither'd, scorch'd, and dead.
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