Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion Part 34

5 The mortal's birth is past; The immortal's birth must be; Seek well and thou shalt find at last That blest nativity.

201. 7s. M. *John Taylor.

A Penitential Hymn.

1 G.o.d of mercy! G.o.d of love!

Hear our sad, repentant songs; Listen to Thy suppliant ones, Thou, to whom all grace belongs!

2 Deep regret for follies past, Talents wasted, time misspent; Hearts debased by worldly cares, Thankless for the blessings lent;--

3 Foolish fears and fond desires, Vain regrets for things as vain; Lips too seldom taught to praise, Oft to murmur and complain;--

4 These, and every secret fault, Filled with grief and shame, we own; Humbled at Thy feet we bow, Seeking strength from Thee alone.

5 G.o.d of mercy! G.o.d of love!

Hear our sad, repentant songs; O, restore Thy suppliant ones, Thou to whom all grace belongs!

202. 10s. M. Anonymous.

The Broken s.h.i.+eld.

1 O, send me not away! for I would drink, Even I, the weakest, at the fount of life; Chide not my steps, that venture near the brink, Weary and fainting from the deadly strife.

2 Went I not forth undaunted and alone, Strong in the majesty of human might?

Lo! I return, all wounded and forlorn, My dream of glory lost in shades of night.

3 Was I not girded for the battle-field?

Bore I not helm of pride and glittering sword?

Behold the fragments of my broken s.h.i.+eld, And lend to me Thy heavenly armor, Lord!

203. C. M. Furness.

The Penitent Son.

1 O, richly, Father, have I been Blest evermore by Thee!

And morning, noon, and night Thou hast Preserved me tenderly.

2 And yet the love which Thou shouldst claim To idols I have given; Too oft have bound to earth the hopes That know no home but heaven.

3 Unworthy to be called Thy son, I come with shame to Thee, Father!--O, more than Father, Thou Hast always been to me!

4 Help me to break the heavy chains The world has round me thrown, And know the glorious liberty Of an obedient son.

5 That I may henceforth heed whate'er Thy voice within me saith, Fix deeply in my heart of hearts A principle of faith,--

6 Faith that, like armor to my soul, Shall keep all evil out, More mighty than an angel host, Encamping round about.

204. 7s. M. Milman.

Lord, Have Mercy.

1 Lord, have mercy when we pray Strength to seek a better way; When our wakening thoughts begin First to loathe their cherished sin; When our weary spirits fail, And our aching brows are pale; Then Thy strengthening grace afford; Then, O, then, have mercy, Lord!

2 Lord, have mercy when we know First how vain this world below; When its darker thoughts oppress, Doubts perplex, and fears distress; When the earliest gleam is given Of the bright but distant heaven; Then Thy strengthening grace afford; Then, O, then, have mercy, Lord!

205. L. M. *

I Will Arise and Go unto My Father.

1 To Thine eternal arms, O G.o.d, Take us, Thine erring children, in; From dangerous paths too boldly trod, From wandering thoughts and dreams of sin.

2 Those arms were round our childish ways, A guard through helpless years to be; O leave not our maturer days, We still are helpless without Thee!

3 We trusted hope and pride and strength: Our strength proved false, our pride was vain, Our dreams have faded all at length,-- We come to Thee, O Lord, again!

4 A guide to trembling steps yet be!

Give us of Thine eternal powers!

So shall our paths all lead to Thee, And life smile on like childhood's hours.

206. L. M. Flint's Coll.

The Strength of the Erring.

1 Yes! prayer is strong, and G.o.d is good; Man is not made for endless ill; The offending soul, in darkest mood, Hath yet a hope, a refuge still.