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If you wait till you are better,
You will never come at all:
Sinners only,

Christ, the Saviour, came to call.
2 Let no sense of guilt prevent you,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness he requireth
Is to feel your need of him :
This he gives you ;-

'T is the Spirit's rising beam.

aff 3 Agonizing in the garden,

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Lo! your Saviour prostrate lies;
On the bloody tree behold him,

There he groans, and bleeds, and dies: "It is finished"

Heaven accepts the sacrifice.

4 Lo! th' incarnate God ascending
Pleads the merit of his blood;
Venture on him,-venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude:
None but Jesus

Can do helpless sinners good.

mf 5 Saints and angels, joined in concert, Sing the praises of the Lamb;

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273 aff 1

While the blissful seats of heaven
Sweetly echo with his name;
Hallelujah!-

Sinners here may sing the same.

HYMN 273, L. M.

The Sinner entreated.

RETURN, O wanderer! now return,

And seek thine injured Father's face;
Those new desires, that in thee burn,
Were kindled by reclaiming grace.
2 Return, O wanderer! now return,
He hears thy deep repentant sigh;
He hears thy softened spirit mourn,
When no intruding ear is nigh.
3 Return, O wanderer! now return,
Thy Saviour bids thy spirit live;
Go to his bleeding feet, and learn
How freely Jesus can forgive.

4 Return, O wanderer! now return,
And wipe away the falling tear;
Thy Father calls-" No longer mourn!'
'Tis mercy's voice invites thee near.

274

HYMN 274, C. M.

The heavenly Guest.

af 1 AND will the Lord thus condescend,

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To visit sinful worms?

Thus at the door shall mercy stand,
In all her winning forms?

2 Shall Jesus for admittance plead,
His charming voice unheard?

And this vile heart, for which he bled,
Remain for ever barred?

3 'T is sin, alas! with tyrant power,
The lodging has possessed;

And crowds of traitors bar the door,
Against the heavenly guest.

4 Lord! rise in thine all-conquering grace,
Thy mighty power display;
One beam of glory from thy face
Can drive my foes away.

5 Ye vile seducers! hence depart;
Dear Saviour! enter in;

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Oh! guard the passage to my heart,
And keep out every sin.

HYMN 275, 8s, 7s and 4s.
Glad tidings.

SINNERS! will you scorn the message

Coming from the courts above?

Mercy speaks in every passage;

Every line is full of love;

Oh! believe it,

Every line is full of love.

mf 2 Now, the heralds of salvation

Joyful news from heaven proclaim ;

Sinners freed from condemnation,
Through the all-atoning Lamb!

Life receiving

Through the all-atoning Lamb.

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3 Who hath their report believed?
Who received the joyful word?
Who embraced the news of pardon,
Freely offered by the Lord?
Life immortal,—

Freely offered by the Lord.

f" 40 ye angels! hovering round us,

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276

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Waiting spirits! speed your way,
Hasten to the court of heaven,
Tidings bear without delay,—
Rebel-sinners

Glad the message will obey.

HYMN 276, S. M.

The accepted Time.

NOW is th' accepted time,
Now is the day of grace;
O sinners! come, without delay,
And seek the Saviour's face.

2 Now is th' accepted time,
The Saviour calls to-day;
To-morrow it may be too late ;-
Then why should you delay?

3 Now is th' accepted time,
The gospel bids you come;
And every promise, in his word,
Declares there yet is room.

4 Lord! draw reluctant souls,

277

And melt them by thy love;
Then will the angels speed their way,
To bear the news above.

HYMN 277, 8s and 4s.

The Gospel Trumpet.

[ARK—hark! the gospel trumpet sounds,— Through the wide earth, the echo bounds,Pardon and peace by Jesus' blood!

Sinners are reconciled to God,

By grace divine.

mf 2 Come, sinners! hear the joyful news, Nor longer dare the grace refuse ;

Mercy and justice here combine,
Goodness and truth harmonious join,
T' invite you near.

f" 3 Ye saints in glory! strike the lyre;
Ye mortals! catch the sacred fire;
Let both the Saviour's love proclaim ;-
For ever worthy is the Lamb

278

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Of endless praise.

HYMN 278, C. M.

The Young exhorted.

YE hearts with youthful vigor warm!

In smiling crowds draw near;
And turn from every mortal charm,
A Saviour's voice to hear.

2 He, Lord of all the worlds on high,
Stoops to converse with you;
And lays his radiant glories by,
Your friendship to pursue.

3 The soul, that longs to see his face,
Is sure his love to gain;

And they, who early seek his grace,
Shall never seek in vain.

4 What object, Lord! my soul should move,
If once compared with thee?
What beauty should command my love,
Like what in Christ I see?

5 Away, ye false delusive toys!

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Vain tempters of the mind;
'Tis here I fix my lasting choice,
For here true bliss I find.

HYMN 279, 8s, 7s and 4.
Children exhorted.

CHILDREN! hear the melting story

the Lamb that once was slain;

'Tis the Lord of life and glory;
Shall he plead with you in vain?
Oh! receive him,

And salvation now obtain.

2 Yield no more to sin and folly,
So displeasing in his sight;

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Jesus loves the pure and holy,
They alone are his delight;
Seek his favor,

And your hearts to him unite.
3 All your sins to him confessing
Who is ready to forgive,

280

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Seek the Saviour's richest blessing,
On his precious name believe;
He is waiting,

Will you not his grace receive?

CHIL

HYMN 280, 7s.

Children invited to Christ.

HILDREN! listen to the Lord,
And obey his gracious word;

Seek his face with heart and mind-
Early seek, and you shall find.
2 Sorrowful, your sins confess;
Plead his perfect righteousness;
See the Saviour's bleeding side;-
Come--you will not be denied.
3 For his worship now prepare ;
Kneel to him in fervent prayer;
Serve him with a perfect heart;
Never from his ways depart.

281 aff 1

PENITENTIAL.

HYMN 281, C. M.

Contrition.

THOU! whose tender mercy hears
Contrition's humble sigh;

Whose hand, indulgent, wipes the tears
From sorrow's weeping eye;-

2 See, low before thy throne of grace,
A wretched wanderer mourn;
Hast thou not bid me seek thy face?
Hast thou not said-"Return?"

8 And shall my guilty fears prevail
To drive me from thy feet?