The Power of Faith Part 31

"Come, thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of endless praise.

"Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above; Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it-- Mount of G.o.d's unchanging love.

"Here I raise my Ebenezer, Hither by thy help I'm come, And I hope, by thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home.

"Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of G.o.d; He, to save my soul from danger, Interposed with precious blood.

"Oh, to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be: Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to thee.

"p.r.o.ne to wander, Lord, I feel it, p.r.o.ne to leave the G.o.d I love; Here's my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it from thy courts above."

Eternal G.o.d, I bless thy name, The same thy power, thy grace the same; The tokens of thy friendly care Open and crown and close the year.

I mid ten thousand dangers stand, Supported by thy gracious hand; And see, when I survey thy ways, Ten thousand monuments of grace.

Thus far thine arm has led me on; Thus far I make thy mercy known; And while I tread this desert land, New mercies shall new songs demand.

My grateful soul on Jordan's sh.o.r.e Shall raise one sacred pillar more; Then bear, in thy bright courts above, Inscriptions of immortal love.

No works to rest upon have I, No boast of moral dignity; If e'er I lisp a song of praise, Grace is the note my soul shall raise.

'Twas grace that quickened me when dead; 'Twas grace my soul to Jesus led, Grace brings me pardon for my sin, And grace subdues my l.u.s.ts within.

'Tis grace that sweetens every cross, 'Tis grace supports in every loss; In Jesus' grace my soul is strong, Grace is my hope, and Christ my song.

Thus, 'tis alone of grace I boast, And 'tis alone in grace I trust: For all that's past, grace is my theme, For what's to come 'tis still the same.

And when I come to Jordan's sh.o.r.e, I'll raise one Ebenezer more; Th' ark of the covenant in my view, I'll sing of grace the Jordan through.

"Is this the kind return, Are these the thanks we owe-- Thus to abuse eternal love, Whence all our blessings flow?

"To what a stubborn frame Has sin reduced our mind!

What strange rebellious wretches we, And G.o.d as strangely kind!

"Turn, turn us, mighty G.o.d!

And mould our souls afresh; Break, sovereign grace, these hearts of stone, And give us hearts of flesh.

"Let past ingrat.i.tude Provoke our weeping eyes; And hourly, as new mercies fall, Let hourly thanks arise."

"O the sweet wonders of that cross, Where Christ my Saviour loved and died; Her n.o.blest life my spirit draws, From his dear wounds and bleeding side.

"I would for ever speak his name, In sounds to mortal ears unknown; With angels join to praise the Lamb, And wors.h.i.+p at his Father's throne."

"Jesus, the vision of thy face Hath overpowering charms; Scarce shall I feel death's cold embrace, If Christ be in my arms."

"O glorious hour! O blest abode!

I shall be near and like my G.o.d; And flesh and sin no more control The sacred pleasures of my soul."

"When in death's gloomy vale I tread, With joy e'en there I'll lift my head; From fear and dread he'll keep me free, His rod and staff shall comfort me."

"Jesus, to thy dear faithful hand My naked soul I trust; My flesh but waits for thy command, To drop into the dust."

"Before we quite forsake our clay, Or leave this dark abode, The wings of love bear us away To see our smiling G.o.d."

"O make it true, my Saviour G.o.d; Raise me all fears above; And when I think on Jesus' blood, Let my last pulse beat love."

"O for an overcoming faith, To cheer my dying hours; To triumph o'er the monster Death, And all his frightful powers.

"Joyful, with all the strength I have, My quivering lips should sing, 'Where is thy boasted victory, Grave, And where the monster's sting?'

"If sin be pardoned, I'm secure; Death has no sting beside; The law gives sin its d.a.m.ning power, But Christ, my Ransom, died.

"Now to the G.o.d of victory, Immortal thanks be paid; Who makes us conquerors while we die, Through Christ, our living Head."

All mortal vanities be gone, Nor tempt mine eyes, nor tire mine ears; Behold, amidst the eternal throne, A vision of the Lamb appears.

All the a.s.sembling saints around, Fall wors.h.i.+pping before the Lamb; And in new songs of gospel sound, Address their honors to his name.

Our voices join the heavenly strain, And with transporting pleasure sing, Worthy the Lamb that once was slain, Our blessed Prophet, Priest, and King.

Thou hast redeemed our souls from h.e.l.l, With thine invaluable blood; And wretches, that did once rebel, Are now made fav'rites of their G.o.d.

Worthy for ever is the Lord, That died for treasons not his own, By every tongue to be adored, And dwell upon his Father's throne.