Steadfast on this my soul relies-
Father, thy mercy never dies.
3 Fixed on this rock will I remain,
When heart shall fail, and flesh decay;-
A rock which shall my soul sustain
When earth's foundations melt away;
Mercy's full power I then shall prove,
Loved with an everlasting love.
Assurance of Faith.
DEBTOR to mercy alone,
Of covenant mercy I sing;
Nor fear, with thy righteousness on,
My person and offerings to bring:
The terrors of law and of God
With me can have nothing to do;
My Saviour's obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions from view.
2 The work which his goodness began,
The arm of his strength will complete,
His promise is Yea and Amen,
And never was forfeited yet:
Things future, nor things that are now,
Not all things below or above
Can make him his purpose forego,
Or sever my soul from his love.
mf 3 My name from the palms of his hands
Eternity will not erase;
Impressed on his heart it remains,
In marks of indelible grace:
Yes-I to the end shall endure,
As sure as the earnest is given;
More happy, but not more secure,
The glorified spirits in heaven.
HYMN 775, S. M.
Rest in God.
H! cease, my wandering soul,
On restless wing to roam;
All this wide world, to either pole,
Has not for thee a home.
2 Behold the ark of God;
Behold the open door;
Oh! haste to gain that dear abode,
And rove, my soul, no more.
3 There safe shalt thou abide,
There sweet shall be thy rest,
And, every longing satisfied,
With full salvation blest.
HYMN 776, S. M.
The Wanderer reclaimed.
1 I WAS a wandering sheep,
I did not love the fold;
I did not love my Shepherd's voice,
I would not be controlled;
I was a wayward child,
I did not love my home,
I did not love my Father's voice,
I loved afar to roam.
2 Jesus my Shepherd is,
'Twas he that loved my soul, 'Twas he that washed me in his blood, 'Twas he that made me whole;
"Twas he that sought the lost,
That found the wandering sheep,
'Twas he that brought me to the fold,
'Tis he that still doth keep.
3 No more a wandering sheep,
I love to be controlled,
I love my tender Shepherd's voice,
I love the peaceful fold;
No more a wayward child,
I seek no more to roam,
I love my heavenly Father's voice,
I love, I love his home.
HYMN 777, 8s and 7s.
Rest in God desired.
ABORING and heavy laden
With my sins, O Lord, I roam,
While I know thou hast invited
All such wanderers to their home.
2 Make my stubborn spirit willing
To obey thy gracious voice,
At the cross to leave its burden,
And departing to rejoice.
3 Thy sweet yoke I'd take upon me,
And would learn, O Lord, of thee;
Thou art meek in heart, and lowly,
Teach me like thyself to be.
4 Rest my weary soul is seeking
From its sins and all its woes;
In thy bosom I would place me,
There to find a blest repose.
5 Laboring and heavy laden,
Lord, no longer will I roam:
Here I fix my habitation,
In thy sheltering love at home.
HYMN 778, L. M. 6 Lines.
Returning to God.
GOD! how often hath thine ear
To me in willing mercy bowed;
While, worshiping thine altar near,
Lowly I wept, and strongly vowed:
But ah! the feebleness of man!
Have I not vowed and wept in vain ?
2 Return, O Lord of Hosts, return!
Behold thy servant in distress;
My faithlessness again I mourn;
Again forgive my faithlessness,
And to thine arms my spirit take,
And bless me for the Saviour's sake.
3 This day the covenant I sign
The bond of sure and promised peace;
Nor can I doubt its power divine,
Since seal'd with Jesus' blood it is:
That blood I take, that blood alone,
And make the covenant peace mine own.
4 But, that my faith no more may know
Or change, or interval, or end-
Help me in all thy paths to go;
And now as e'er my voice attend;
And gladden me with answers mild,
And commune, Father, with thy child!
HYMN 779, C. M.
Nearness to God.
H! could I find, from day to day,
A nearness to my God,
Then should my hours glide sweet away,
Nor sin nor fear intrude.
2 Lord, I desire with thee to live
Anew from day to day;
In joys the world can never give,
Nor ever take away.
3 0 Jesus! come and rule my heart,
And make me wholly thine,
That I may never more depart,
Nor grieve thy love divine.
4 Thus, till my last expiring breath,
Thy goodness I'll adore;
And when my flesh dissolves in death,
My soul shall love thee more.
HYMN 780, C. M.
A Contrite Heart.
H! for a heart to praise my God!
A heart from sin set free;
A heart that always feels thy blood,
So freely shed for me;-
2 A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
My great Redeemer's throne;
Where only Christ is heard to speak,
Where Jesus reigns alone.
3 An humble, lowly, contrite heart,
Believing, true, and clean;
Which neither life nor death can part
From him that dwells within!
4 A heart in every thought renewed,
And full of love divine;
Perfect, and right, and pure, and good—
A copy, Lord, of thine.
5 Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart;
Come quickly from above:
Write thy new name upon my heart,
Thy new, best name of love.
HYMN 781, C. M.
Christ our Pattern.
ORD, as to thy dear cross we flee,
And pray to be forgiven,
So let thy life our pattern be,
And form our souls for heaven.
2 Help us, through good report and ill,
Our daily cross to bear;
Like thee, to do our Father's will,
Our brother's griefs to share.
3 Let grace our selfishness expel,
Our earthliness refine;
And kindness in our bosoms dwell
As free and true as thine.
4 Kept peaceful in the midst of strife,
Forgiving and forgiven,
Oh! may we lead the pilgrim's life.
And follow thee to heaven
HYMN 782, L. M.
Ask what thou wilt.
AND dost thou say, “Ask what thou wilt"?
Lord, I would seize the golden hour:
I pray to be released from guilt,
And freed from sin and Satan's power.
2 More of thy presence, Lord, impart;
More of thine image let me bear:
Erect thy throne within my heart,
And reign without a rival there.
3 Give me to read my pardon sealed,
And from thy joy to draw my strength;
Oh! be thy boundless love revealed
In all its height and breadth and length!
4 Grant these requests-I ask no more,
But to thy care the rest resign:
Sick, or in health, or rich, or poor,
All shall be well, if thou art mine.
HYMN 783, S. M.
Looking for Strength.
ESUS, my strength, my hope,
On thee I cast my care,
With humble confidence look up
And know thou hear'st my prayer:
2 Give me a heart to pray,
To pray and never cease,
Never to murmur at thy stay,
Or wish my sufferings less,-
3 A soul inured to pain,
To hardship, grief, and loss,
Bold to take up, firm to sustain,
The consecrated cross.
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