Sacred Gratitude

707
Sweet Songs from saved Souls.

1 WHO can praisAlbert Midlane, 18e the blessed God, Like a sinner saved by grace?

Angels cannot sing so loud, Though they see Him face to face—

Sinless angels ne'er can know What a debt saved sinners owe.

2 Where Iniquity's forgiven, There the grateful strains arise:

He who knows the love of heaven, Sings the songs which grace supplies:

Precious songs of sins forgiven, Sweetest melody of heaven.

Albert Midlane, 1864..

1. 708
   "Return unto thy Best."

1 MY heart is resting, O my God;

I will give thanks and sing; My heart is at the secret source Of every precious thing.

2 Now the frail vessel Thou hast made No hand but Thine shall fill; The waters of the earth have fail'd, And I am thirsting still.

3 I thirst for springs of heavenly life, And here all day they rise;

I seek the treasure of Thy love, And close at hand it lies.

4 And a "new song" is in my mouth, To long-loved music set;

Glory to Thee for all the grace I have not tasted yet.

5 I have a heritage of joy That yet I must not see: The hand that bled to make it mine, Is keeping it for me.

6 My heart is resting on His truth, Who hath made all things mine; Who draws my captive will to Him, And makes it one with Thine.

Ann Letitia Waring, 1850, a.

709 "What shall I render?"

1 FOR mercies countless as the sands, Which daily I receive From Jesus' my Redeemer's hands, My soul, what canst thou give?

2 Alas! from such a heart as mine What can I bring Him forth? My best is stain'd and dyed with sin; My all is nothing worth.

3 Yet this acknowledgment I'll make For all He has bestow'd;

Salvation's sacred cup I'll take, And call upon my God.

4 The best return for one like me, So wretched and so poor, Is from His gifts to draw a plea, And ask Him still for more.

5 I cannot serve Him as I ought; No works have I to boast;

Yet would I glory in the thought, That I should owe Him most.

John Newton, 1779

710 Gratitude for daily Mercy.

1 LORD, in the day Thou art about The paths wherein I tread; And in the night, when I lie down, Thou art about my bed.

2 While others in God's prisons lie, Bound with affliction's chain, I walk at large, secure and free From sickness and from pain.

3 'Tis Thou dost crown my hopes and plans With good success each day; This crown, together with myself, At Thy blest feet I lay.

4 Oh let my house a temple be, That I and mine may sing Hosanna to Thy majesty, And praise our Heavenly King!

Cento by John Hampden Gurney, 1838-1851 From John Mason, 1633.