2 Nay, but I yield, I yield; I can hold out no more; I sink, by dying love compelled, And own thee conqueror.
3 Though late, I all forsake; My friends, my all, resign; Gracious Redeemer! take, O take, And seal me ever thine.
4 Come, and possess me whole, Nor hence again remove; Settle and fix my wavering soul With all thy weight of love.
5 My one desire be this, Thy only love to know; To seek and taste no other bliss, No other good below.
366 S. M. God’s mercy to the penitent.
Sweet is the friendly voice Which speaks of life and peace; Which bids the penitent rejoice, And sin and sorrow cease.
2 No balm on earth like this Can cheer the contrite heart; No flattering dreams of earthly bliss Such pure delight impart.
3 Still merciful and kind, Thy mercy, Lord, reveal; The broken heart thy love can bind, The wounded spirit heal.
4 Thy presence shall restore Peace to my anxious breast; Lord, let my steps be drawn no more From paths which thou hast blessed.
367 7s. Father, I have sinned. Luke 15:18.
Love for all! and can it be? Can I hope it is for me? I, who strayed so long ago, Strayed so far, and fell so low!
2 I, the disobedient child, Wayward, passionate and wild; I, who left my Father’s home In forbidden ways to roam!
3 I, who spurned his loving hold, I, who would not be controlled; I, who would not hear his call, I, the willful prodigal!
4 I, who wasted and misspent Every talent he had lent; I, who sinned again, again, Giving every passion rein!
5 To my Father can I go? At his feet myself I’ll throw, In his house there yet may be Place, a servant’s place, for me.
6 See, my Father waiting stands; See, he reaches out his hands; God is love! I know, I see, Love for me—yes, even me.
368 7s. Sighing for home.
People of the living God! I have sought the world around, Paths of sin and sorrow trod, Peace and comfort nowhere found.
2 Now to you my spirit turns, Turns, a fugitive unblessed; Brethren! where your altar burns, O receive me into rest.
3 Lonely I no longer roam, Like the cloud, the wind, the wave: Where you dwell shall be my home, Where you die shall be my grave.
4 Mine the God whom you adore, Your Redeemer shall be mine; Earth can fill my heart no more, Every idol I resign.
5 Tell me not of gain or loss, Ease, enjoyment, pomp, and power; Welcome! poverty and cross, Shame, reproach, affliction’s hour.
6 “Follow me!” I know thy voice, Jesus, Lord! thy steps I see; Now I take thy yoke by choice; Light thy burden now to me.
369 7s, double. Longing for rest.
Does the gospel word proclaim Rest for those that weary be? Then, my soul, put in thy claim— Sure that promise speaks to thee: Marks of grace I can not show, All polluted is my best; But I weary am, I know, And the weary long for rest.
2 Burdened with a load of sin, Harassed with tormenting doubt, Hourly conflicts from within, Hourly crosses from without; All my little strength is gone, Sink I must without supply; Sure upon the earth is none Can more weary be than I.
3 In the ark the weary dove Found a welcome resting-place; Thus my spirit longs to prove Rest in Christ, the Ark of grace; Tempest-tossed I long have been, And the flood increases fast; Open, Lord, and take me in, Till the storm be overpast!
370 7s. Forward. Exodus 14:15.
When we can not see our way, Let us trust, and still obey; He who bids us forward go, Can not fail the way to show.
2 Though the sea be deep and wide, Though a passage seem denied; Fearless let us still proceed, Since the Lord vouchsafes to lead.
3 Though it seems the gloom of night, Though we see no ray of light; Since the Lord himself is there, ’Tis not meet that we should fear.
4 Night with him is never night; Where he is, there all is light; When he calls us, why delay? They are happy who obey.
5 Be it ours, then, while we’re here, Him to follow without fear; Where he calls us, there to go, What he bids us, that to do.
371 8s & 6s. The unseen Friend.
O holy Saviour! Friend unseen, Since on thine arm thou bidd’st me lean, Help me, throughout life’s changing scene, By faith to cling to thee!
2 Blest with this fellowship divine, Take what thou wilt, I’ll not repine; For, as the branches to the vine, My soul would cling to thee.
3 Though far from home, fatigued, oppressed, Here have I found a place of rest; An exile still, yet not unblest, Because I cling to thee.
4 What though the world deceitful prove, And earthly friends and hopes remove; With patient, uncomplaining love, Still would I cling to thee.