Conflict and Encouragement
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616
2 Should love like Thine be thus repaid? Ah, vile, ungrateful heart! By earth's low cares detain'd, betray'd, From Jesus to depart.
3 From Jesus, who alone can give True pleasure, peace, and rest: When absent from my Lord I live Unsatisfied, unblest.
4 But He, for His own mercy's sake, My wandering soul restores: He bids the mourning heart partake The pardon it implores.
5 Oh while I breathe to Thee, my Lord, The penitential sigh, Confirm the kind foraging word With pity in Thine eye.
6 Then shall the mourner at Thy feet Rejoice to seek Thy face: And grateful own how kind, how sweet, Thy condescending grace. Anne Steele, 1760. |
617 1 WILL God for ever cast me off? His promise ever fail? Has He forgot His tender love? Shall anger still prevail?
2 I call His mercies to my mind, Which I enjoy'd before: And will the Lord no more be kind? His face appear no more?
3 But I forbid this hopeless thought, This dark, despairing frame; Rememb'ring what His hand hath wrought; His hand is still the same. Isaac Watts. 1719 |
618 1 WILL God for ever cast me off? His promise ever fail? Has He forgot His tender love? Shall anger still prevail?
2 I call His mercies to my mind, Which I enjoy'd before: And will the Lord no more be kind? His face appear no more?
3 But I forbid this hopeless thought, This dark, despairing frame; Rememb'ring what His hand hath wrought; His hand is still the same. Isaac Watts. 1719. |
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619 Why are my thoughts no more by day with Thee, no more by night?
2 Why should my foolish passions rove? Where can such sweetness be As I have tasted in Thy love, As I have found in Thee?
3 Trifles of nature, or of art, With fair deceitful charms, Intrude into my thoughtless heart, And thrust me from Thy arms.
4 Then I repent, and vex my soul, That I should leave Thee so; Where will those wild affections roll, That let a Saviour go?
5 Sin's promised joys are turn'd to pain, And I am drown'd in grief; But my dear Lord returns again, He flies to my relief.
6 Seizing my soul with sweet surprise, He draws with loving bands; Divine compassion in His eyes, And pardon in His hands.
7 Wretch that I am, to wander thus In chase of false delight; Let me be fasten'd to Thy cross, Rather than lose Thy sight.
8 Make haste, my days, to reach the goal, And bring my heart to rest On the dear centre of my soul, My God, my Saviour's breast Isaac Watts, 1709. |
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2 Where is the blessedness I knew When first I saw the Lord? Where is the soul-refreshing view Of Jesus and His word?
3 What peaceful hours I then enjoy'd! How sweet their memory still! But now I find an aching void The world can never fill.
4 Return, O holy Dove! return, Sweet messenger of rest! I hate the sins that made Thee mourn, And drove Thee from my breast.
5 The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be, Help me to tear it from Thy throne, And worship only Thee.
6 So shall my walk be close with God, Calm and serene my frame; So purer light shall mark the road That leads me to the Lamb. William Cowper, 1779. |
621 What doubts are these that waste your faith, And nourish your despair?
2 What though your numerous sins exceed The stars that fill the skies, And aiming at th' eternal throne, Like pointed mountains rise!
3 What though your mighty guilt beyond The wide creation swell, And has its cursed foundation laid Low as the deeps of hell!
4 See here an endless ocean flows Of never-failing grace; Behold a dying Saviour's veins The sacred flood increase.
5 It rises high and drowns the hills, Has neither shore nor bound: Now if we search to find our sins, Our sins can ne'er be found.
6 Awake, our hearts, adore the grace That buries all our faults, And pardoning blood, that swells above Our follies and our thoughts. Isaac Watts, 1709 |
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622
2 To Thee I tell each rising grief, For Thou alone canst heal; Thy word can bring a sweet relief For every pain I feel.
3 But oh! when gloomy doubts prevail, I fear to call Thee mine; The springs of comfort seem to fail, And all my hopes decline.
4 Yet, gracious God, where shall I flee? Thou art my only trust; And still my soul would cleave to Thee, Though prostrate in the dust.
5 Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face? And shall I seek in vain? And can the ear of sovereign grace Be deaf when I complain?
6 No, still the ear of sovereign grace Attends the mourner's prayer; Oh may I ever find access To breathe my sorrows there!
7 Thy mercy-seat is open still, Here let my soul retreat: With humble hope attend Thy will, And wait beneath Thy feet. Anne Steele, 1760
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623 Jesus, to Thee I lift mine eyes, To Thee I breathe my soul's desires.
2 Art Thou not mine, my living Lord; And can my hope, my comfort die, Fix'd on Thy everlasting word, That word which built the earth and sky?
3 If my immortal Saviour lives, Then my immortal life is sure; His word a firm foundation gives— Here let me build, and rest secure.
4 Here let my faith unshaken dwell; Immovable the promise stands; Not all the powers of earth or hell Can e'er dissolve the sacred bands.
5 Here, O my soul, thy trust repose; If Jesus is for ever mine, Not death itself, that last of foes, Shall break a union so divine. Anne Steele, 1760 |
624 I pant for the light of Thy face, And fear it will never be mine: Dishearten'd with waiting so long, I sink at Thy feet with my load; All plaintive I pour out my song, And stretch forth my hands unto God.
2 Shine, Lord, and my terror shall cease The blood of atonement apply; And lead me to Jesus for peace, The rock that is higher than I: Speak, Saviour, for sweet is Thy voice, Thy presence is fair to behold; I thirst for Thy Spirit with cries And groanings that cannot be told.
3 If sometimes I strive, as I mourn, My hold of Thy promise to keep, The billows more fiercely return, And plunge me again in the deep: While harass'd and cast from Thy sight, The tempter suggests with a roar, "The Lord hath forsaken thee quite: Thy God will be gracious no more."
4 Yet Lord, if Thy love hath design'd No covenant-blessing for me, Ah, tell me, how is it I find Some sweetness in waiting for Thee? Almighty to rescue Thou art, Thy grace is my only resource; If e'er Thou art Lord of my heart, Thy Spirit must take it by force. Augustus M. Toplady, 1772. |
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625 1 O THOU from whom all goodness flows! I lift my soul to Thee; In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes, Good Lord! remember me.
2 When, on my groaning, burden'd heart, My sins lie heavily; My pardon speak, new peace impart; In love remember me.
3 When trials sore obstruct my way, And ills I cannot flee, Oh, give me strength, Lord, as my day: For good remember me.
4 Distress'd with pain, disease, and grief, This feeble body see; Grant patience, rest, and kind relief: Hear and remember me.
5 If on my face for Thy dear name, Shame and reproaches be, All hail reproach, and welcome shame, If Thou remember me.
6 The hour is near, consign'd to death, I own the just decree, Saviour, with my last parting breath I'll cry, Remember me! Thomas Haweis, 1792. |
626 Through the desert where I stray, Let Thy counsels guide my way.
2 Lead me not, for flesh is frail, Where fierce trials would assail; Leave me not, in darken'd hour, To withstand the tempter's power
3 Lord! uphold me day by day; Shed a light upon my way; Guide me through perplexing snares; Care for me in all my cares.
4 Should Thy wisdom, Lord, decree Trials long and sharp for me, Pain or sorrow, care or shame, Father! glorify Thy name.
5 Let me neither faint nor fear, Feeling still that Thou art near; In the course my Saviour trod, Tending still to Thee, my God! Josiah Conder, 1836. |
627
2 Friend of the friendless and the faint, Where should I lodge my deep complaint? Where, but with Thee, whose open door Invites the helpless and the poor?
3 Did ever mourner plead with Thee, And Thou refuse the mourner's plea? Does not Thy word still fix'd remain, That none shall seek Thy face in vain?
4 That were a grief I could not bear, Didst Thou not hear and answer prayer; But a prayer-hearing, answering God Supports me under every load.
5 Fair is the lot that's cast for me; I have an Advocate with Thee: They whom the world caresses most, Have no such privilege to boast.
6 Poor though I am, despised, forgot, Yet God, my God, forgets me not; And he is safe, and must succeed, For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead. William Cowper, 1779. |
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628 Yet still our joy is mix'd with grief, While faith contends with unbelief.
2 Thy promises our hearts revive, And keep our fainting hopes alive; But guilt, and fears, and sorrows rise, And hide the promise from our eyes.
3 Oh let not sin and Satan boast While saints lie mourning in the dust; Nor see that faith to ruin brought Which Thy own gracious hand hath wrought.
4 Do Thou the dying spark inflame, Reveal the glories of Thy name; And put all anxious doubts to flight, As shades dispersed by opening light. Watts and Rippon, 1706-1787 |
629 Sure Thy compassions ne'er remove, Although Thou hide Thy face.
2 Thy smiles have freed my heart from pain, My drooping spirits cheer'd: And wilt Thou not appear again Where Thou hast once appear'd?
3 Hast Thou not form'd my soul anew, And told me I am Thine? And wilt Thou now Thy work undo, Or break Thy word divine?
4 Dost Thou repent? wilt Thou deny The gifts Thou hast bestowed? Or are those streams of mercy dry, Which once so freely flow'd?
5 Lord! let no groundless fears destroy The mercies now possess'd; I'll praise for blessings I enjoy, And trust for all the rest. Beddome and Rippon, 1800 |
630 1 AND art Thou with us, gracious Lord, To dissipate our fear? Dost Thou proclaim Thyself our God, Our God for ever near?
2 Dost Thou a Father's bowels feel For all Thy humble saints? And in such tender accents speak To soothe their sad complaints?
3 Why droop our hearts, why flow our eyes, While such a voice we hear? Why rise our sorrows and our fears, While such a friend is near?
4 To all Thine other favours, add O heart to trust Thy word; And death itself shall hear us sing, While resting on the Lord. Philip Doddridge, 1755. |
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631 Wherefore art thou thus cast down? Let thy griefs be turn'd to gladness, Bid thy restless fears be gone: Look to Jesus, And rejoice in His dear name.
2 What though Satan's strong temptations Vex and tease thee day by day? And thy sinful inclinations Often fill thee with dismay? Thou shalt conquer, Through the Lamb's redeeming blood.
3 Though ten thousand ills beset thee, From without and from within; Jesus saith, He'll ne'er forget thee, But will save from hell and sin; He is faithful To perform His gracious word.
4 Though distresses now attend thee, And thou tread'st the thorny road; His right hand shall still defend thee, Soon He'll bring thee home to God: Therefore praise Him, Praise the great Redeemer's name.
5 Oh that I could now adore Him, Like the heavenly host above, Who for ever bow before Him, And unceasing sing His love! Happy songsters! When shall I your chorus join? John Fawcett, 1782. |
632 I trust a Saviour slain, And safe beneath His sheltering cross, Unmoved I shall remain.
2 Let Satan and the world, Now rage or now allure; The promises in Christ are made Immutable and sure.
3 The oath infallible Is now my spirit's trust; I know that He who spake the word, Is faithful, true, and just.
4 He'll bring me on my way Unto my journey's end; He'll be my Father and my God, My Saviour and my Friend.
5 So all my doubts and fears Shall wholly flee away, And every mournful night of tears Be turn'd to joyous day.
6 All that remains for me Is but to love and sing, And wait until the angels come To bear me to the Ring. William Williams, 1772; Charles H. Spurgeon, 1865 |
633 1 YE trembling souls, dismiss your fears, Be mercy all your theme; Mercy, which like a river flows In one perpetual stream.
2 Fear not the powers of earth and hell, God will these powers restrain; His arm shall all their rage repel, And make their efforts vain.
3 Fear not the want of outward good; For His He will provide, Grant them supplies of daily food, And give them heaven beside.
4 Fear not that He will e'er forsake, Or leave His work undone; He's faithful to His promises, And faithful to His Son.
5 Fear not the terrors of the grave, Or death's tremendous sting; He will from endless wrath preserve, To endless glory bring. Benjamin Beddome, 1818. |
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634 He trusts in our Redeemer's hands His glory and His grace.
2 Then why, my soul, these sad complaints Since Christ and we are one? Thy God is faithful to His saints, Is faithful to His Son.
3 Beneath His smiles my heart has lived, And part of heaven possess'd; I praise His name for grace received, And trust Him for the rest. Isaac Watts, 1709. |
635 1 OH, why so heavy, O my soul? Thus to myself I said— Oh, why so heavy, O my soul, And so disquieted?
2 Hope thou in God; He still shall be Thy glory and thy praise; His saving grace shall comfort thee Through everlasting days.
3 His goodness made thee what thou art And yet will thee redeem: Oh, be thou of a steadfast heart, And put thy trust in Him. Edward Caswall, 1858.. |
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