3 Approach, my soul, to wisdom's gates,
Approach without delay;

No one who watches there, and waits,
Shall e'er be turned away.

4 He will not let me seek in vain;
For all who trust his word
Shall everlasting life obtain,
And favour from the Lord.

1

186

Christ's Invitation.

L. M.

COME hither, all ye weary souls!
Ye heavy-laden sinners! come;
I'll give you rest from all your toils,

And raise you to my heavenly home.
2 They shall find rest that learn of me;
I'm of a meek and lowly mind;
But passion rages like the sea,

And pride is restless as the wind.
3 Blest is the man whose shoulders take
My yoke, and bear it with delight!
My yoke is easy to his neck;

My grace shall make the burden light.

4 Jesus! we come at thy command, With faith, and hope, and humble zeal; Resign our spirits to thy hand,

To mould and guide us at thy will.

187

"Give me thy Heart."

HEAR ye not a voice from heaven,

To the listening spirit given?

Children, come! it seems to say,
Give your hearts to me to-day.

78.

2 Sweet as is a mother's love,
Tender as the heavenly Dove,
Thus it speaks a Saviour's charms;
Thus it wins us to his arms.
3 Lord, we will remember thee,
While from pains and sorrows free;
While our day is in its dew,
And the clouds of life are few.

4 Then, when night and age appear,
Thou wilt chase each doubt and fear;
Thou our glorious leader be,

When the stars shall fade and flee.

5 Now to thee, O Lord! we come, In our morning's early bloom; Breathe on us thy grace divine;

Touch our hearts, and make them thing'

188

Early Consecration.

C.M

1 IN the bright morn of life, when youth With vital ardour glows,

And shines in all the fairest charms
That beauty can disclose,

2 Deep in thy soul, before its powers
Are yet by vice enslaved,
Be thy Creator's glorious name
And character engraved:

3 Ere yet the shades of sorrow cloud
The sunshine of thy days;
And cares, and toils, in endless roune
Encompass all thy ways:

4 Ere yet thy heart the woes of age
With vain regret deplore,

And sadly muse on former joys,
That now return no more.

True wisdom, early sought and gained,
In age will give thee rest;
O then, improve the morn of life,
To make its evening blest!

PENITENTIAL.

189

The Decision.

L. M.

THE smitten heart and starting tear

Which bade me live for God and heaven, Have sometimes roused my solemn fear, And made me wish my sins forgiven. 2 But when I mingled with the crowd That hasten to the world of wo, I felt too stubborn and too proud To yield to Christ, and heavenward go. 3 And thus I've gone from day to day, From month to month, and year to year, Refusing still to bend and pray,

And shed the penitential tear.

4 But I'm resolved no longer now To put away the day of grace;

Lest God in anger strike the blow
And make despair my dwelling place.

190

Earnest Supplication.

JESUS! hear a weeping mourner-
Hear a sinner poor and vile:

Hear me-once a wicked scorner-
Now implore thy pitying smile.

8,7.

2 Friend of sinners! I have scorned thee-
Scorned thy name, and scorned thy laws;
Yet in mercy hast thou warned me-
Yet in mercy plead my cause.

3 Plead my cause, with power prevailing,
At the sovereign bar of God;
Save me from eternal wailing-
Save me from Jehovah's rod!
4 Lord of pity! see me languish
At thy feet, and bid me live;
Thou alone canst ease my anguish,
Thou alone canst pardon give.
191 A broken Heart I bring.

L. M.

THOU that hearest when sinners cry,
Though all my crimes before thee lie,
Behold them not with angry look,
But blot their memory from thy book.
2 Create my nature pure within,
And form my soul averse to sin:
Let thy good Spirit ne'er depart,
Nor hide thy presence from my heart.
3 Though I have grieved thy Spirit, Lord,
Thy help and comfort still afford;

And let a wretch come near thy throne,
To plead the merits of thy Son.

4 A broken heart, my God, my King,
Is all the sacrifice I bring;

1

The God of grace will ne'er despise
A broken heart for sacrifice.

192

To the Holy Spirit.

STAY thou insulted Spirit, stay,

L.M.

Though I have done thee such despite; Cast not the sinner quite away, Nor take thine everlasting flight.

2 Though I have most unfaithful been,
And long in vain thy grace received;
Ten thousand times thy goodness seen,
Ten thousand times thy goodness grieved;
Yet O the chief of sinners spare,
In honour of my great High-priest;
Nor in thy righteous anger swear
That I shall never see thy rest.

My weary soul, O God, release;
Uphold me with thy gracious hand;
Guide me into thy perfect peace,
And bring me to the promised land.
C. M.

193 Seeking after God.

THAT I knew the secret place
Where I might find my God;

I'd spread my wants before his face,
And pour my woes abroad.

2 I'd tell him how my sins arise,
What sorrows I sustain;

How grace decays, and comfort dies,
And leaves my heart in pain.

3 He knows what arguments I'd take
To wrestle with my God;

I'd plead for his own mercy's sake,
And for my Saviour's blood.

4 My God will pity my complaints,
And heal my broken bones;

He knows the meaning of his saints,
The language of their groans.

Arise, my soul, from deep distress,
And banish every fear;

He calls thee to his throne of grace,
To spread thy sorrows there.