5 Gov of mercy! GoD of love!
Hear our sad repentant songs;
Oh restore thy suppliant race.
Thou to whom all grace belongs!

215. c. M.

Penitent Supplication.

I THOU, LORD! in mercy wilt regard
The upright and sincere :

Thou wilt with gracious eye, behold
The penitential tear.

2 Thou canst restrain wild passion's sway,
The power of vice control,
Restore bright reason's ray divine
To purify the soul.

3 O GOD! from error turn my feet,
That I no more may stray;
And guide my steps direct and safe
In virtue's peaceful way.

4 May I no more, with wilful mind,
Thy righteous laws offend;

1

Then shall I know nor guilt nor fear,
Since thou wilt be my Friend.

216. c. M.

Supplication of Divine Mercy.
HEN rising from the bed of death,
O'erwhelm'd with guilt and fear,

WE

I see my Maker face to face,

Oh how shall I appear!

2 If yet while pardon may be found,
And mercy may be sought,

My heart with inward horror shrinks,
And trembles at the thought,-

3 When thou, O LORD! shalt stand disclos'd In majesty severe,

And sit in judgment on my soul,

Oh how shall I appear!

But there's forgiveness, LORD! with thee;
Thy nature is benign;

Thy pardoning mercy I implore,
For mercy, LORD! is thine.

5 Oh let thy boundless mercy shine
On my benighted soul,

Correct my passions, mend my heart,
And all my fears control!

6 And may I taste thy richer grace
In that decisive hour,

When Christ to judgment shall descend,
And time shall be no more.

217. c. M.

Inconstancy in Religion lamented.

1 PERPETUAL Source of light and grace!
We praise thy sacred name;
Through every year's revolving round,
Thy goodness is the same.

2 On us, unworthy as we are,
Its blessings still it pours;

Sure as the heaven's establish'd course,
And plenteous as the show'rs.

3 Inconstant service we repay,

And transient vows renew,—

Fleeting too oft as morning clouds,
And like the early dew.

4 Our former follies, LORD we mourn,
And now thy grace implore

To guide our often erring steps,
That we may stray no more.

5 Aided by energy divine,

May we more steadfast prove ;
And, with determin'd zeal, press on
To gain thy courts above.

So by thy power the morning san
Pursues his radiant way,
Brightens each moment in his course,
And shines to perfect day.

218. L. M.

Preservation from Sin implored.

1 AMIDST a world of hopes and fears,

A wild of cares and toils and tears,

Where foes alarm, and dangers threat, And pleasures kill, and glories cheat,2 Shed down, O LORD! a heav'nly ray To guide me in the doubtful way; And o'er me hold thy shield of power, To guard me in the dang 'rous hour. 3 Teach me the flatt'ring paths to shun, In which the thoughtless many run; Who for a shade the substance miss, And grasp their ruin in their bliss.

4 Each noble principle impart;

The faith which sanctifies the heart, Hope that to heav'n's high vault aspires And love that warms with holy fires. 5 Whate'er is honest, pure, refin'd, Just, gen'rous, amiable, and kind, That may my constant zeal pursue, That may I love and practice too. 6 May never pleasure, wealth, or pride, Allure my wand'ring soul aside; Nor tempt me from the narrow road, Which leads to happiness and GOD.

219. L. M.

The wise Choice.

1 BESET with snares on ev'ry hand,
In life's uncertain path I stand :

Father divine! diffuse thy light,
To guide my doubtful footsteps right.

2 Engage this frail and wavering heart,
Wisely to choose the better part;
To scorn the trifles of a day

For joys which never fade away.

3 Then, though the wildest storms arise, Though tempests mingle earth and skies, No fatal shipwreck shall I fear,

But all my treasures with me bear. 4 If thou, my Father! still be nigh, Cheerful I live, and joyful die; Secure, when mortal comforts flee, To find ten thousand worlds in thee.

220. L. M.

Devout Wishes for Guidance and Success in the Christian Course.

A

1 GOD of the morning! at whose voice
The cheerful sun makes haste to rise
ad rob'd in splendour doth rejoice
To run his journey through the skies.
2 Ob, like the sun, may we fulfil
The appointed duties of the day;
With steady mind, and active will,
Press on and keep our heav'nly way.
3 But we shall rove and lose our race,
If God, our Sun, shoult disappear,
And leave us in the world's wide maze,
To follow ev'ry wand'ring star.

4 LORD! thy commands are right and pure,
Enlight'ning our beclouded eyes;

Thy threat'nings just, thy promise sure,
Thy gospel makes the simple wise.

5 Give us thy counsel for our guide,
And then receive us to thy bliss ;
May ev'ry wish and hope beside
Be faint and cold compar'd with this!

221. L. M.

Desire of Wisdom and Obedience.

1 TEACH me, oh teach me, LORD! thy way,
That to my life's remotest day,
By thy unerring precepts led,

My feet thy heav'nly paths may tread.
2 Inform'd by thee, with sacred awe,
My heart shall meditate thy law;
And with celestial wisdom fill'd,
To thee a pure obedience yield.
3 Give me to know thy will aright,
Thy will my glory and delight;
That, rais'd above the world, my mind
In thee its highest good may find.

4 Oh turn from vanity my eye;

1

To thee my quick'ning strength supply;
And with thy promis'd mercy cheer
A heart devoted to thy fear!

222 C. M.

Desire of Holiness.

H that the LORD would guide my ways,
To keep his statutes still;

Oh that my GoD would grant me grace
To know and do his will!

2 In deepest characters impress
Thy law upon my heart;

Nor let my tongue the truth transgress,
Nor act the sland'rers part.

3 Oh turn from vanity my eyes!
Let no corrupt design,
Nor covetous desire, arise,
Within this heart of mine.

4 Assist my heart too apt to stray,
A stricter watch to keep;

And, since I've not forgot thy way.
Restore thy wand'ring sheep.