395 L. M. The joys of pardon.
Forgiveness! ’tis a joyful sound To malefactors doomed to die; Publish the bliss the world around; You seraphs, shout it from the sky!
2 ’Tis the rich gift of love divine; ’Tis full, outmeasuring every crime; Unclouded shall its glories shine, And feel no change by changing time.
3 For this stupendous love of heaven, What grateful honors shall we show! Where much transgression is forgiven, Let love in equal ardors glow.
4 By this inspired, let all our days With gospel holiness be crowned; Let truth and goodness, prayer and praise In all abide, in all abound.
396 L. M. Blessed is the man whose sin is covered. Rom. 4:7.
Earth has a joy unknown in heaven— The new-born joy of sins forgiven! Tears of such pure and deep delight, O angels! never dimmed your sight.
2 You saw of old on chaos rise The beauteous pillars of the skies; You know where morn exulting springs, And evening folds her drooping wings.
3 Bright heralds of th’ Eternal Will, Abroad his errands you fulfill; Or, throned in floods of beamy day, Symphonies in his presence play.
4 Loud is the song—the heavenly plain Is shaken with the choral strain; And dying echoes, floating far, Draw music from each chiming star.
5 But I amid your choirs shall shine, And all your knowledge shall be mine; You on your harps must lean to hear A secret chord that mine shall bear.
397 L. M. Self-dedication.
Lord, I am thine, entirely thine, Purchased alone by blood divine; With full consent I yield to thee, And own thy sovereign right to me.
2 Grant me, in mercy, now a place Among the children of thy grace; A wretched sinner, lost to God, But ransomed by Immanuel’s blood.
3 Thee, my new Master, now I call, And consecrate to thee my all: Lord, let me live and die to thee; Be thine through all eternity.
398 L. M. Happy day.
O happy day, that fixed my choice On thee, my Saviour and my God! Well may this glowing heart rejoice, And tell its raptures all abroad. CHORUS. Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away; He taught me how to watch and pray, And live rejoicing every day.
2 O happy bond, that seals my vows To him who merits all my love! Let cheerful anthems fill his house, While to that sacred shrine I move.
3 ’Tis done; the great transaction’s done; I am my Lord’s, and he is mine; He drew me, and I followed on, Charmed to confess the voice divine.
4 Now rest, my long divided heart! Fixed on this blissful center rest; Here have I found a nobler part, Here heavenly pleasures fill my breast.
5 High heaven, that heard the solemn vow, That vow renewed shall daily hear; Till in life’s latest hour I bow, And bless in death a bond so dear.
399 L. M. Joy of consecration to Christ.
O sweetly breathe the lyres above, When angels touch the quivering string, And wake, to chant Immanuel’s love, Such strains as angel-lips can sing!
2 And sweet, on earth, the choral swell, From mortal tongues, of gladsome lays; When pardoned souls their raptures tell, And, grateful, hymn Immanuel’s praise.
3 Jesus, thy name our souls adore; We own the bond that makes us thine; And carnal joys, that charmed before, For thy dear sake we now resign.
4 Our hearts, by dying love subdued, Accept thine offered grace to-day; Beneath the cross, with blood bedewed, We bow, and give ourselves away.
5 In thee we trust—on thee rely; Though we are feeble, thou art strong; O, keep us till our spirits fly To join the bright, immortal throng!
400 L. M. 6 lines. The sure refuge.
Now I have found the ground wherein Sure my soul’s anchor may remain; The wounds of Jesus, for my sin, Before the world’s foundation slain; Whose mercy shall unshaken stay, When heaven and earth are fled away.
2 O Love, thou bottomless abyss! My sins are swallowed up in thee; Covered is my unrighteousness; From condemnation now I’m free; While Jesus’ blood through earth and skies, Mercy, free, boundless mercy! cries.
3 With faith I plunge me in this sea, Here is my hope, my joy, my rest; Hither, when hell assails, I flee, I look into my Saviour’s breast. Away, sad doubt, and anxious fear! Mercy is all that’s written here.
4 Tho’ waves and storms go o’er my head, Tho’ strength, and health, and friends, be gone: Tho’ joys be withered all, and dead; Tho’ every comfort be withdrawn— Steadfast on this my soul relies: Father, thy mercy never dies.
401 L. M. What shall I render unto thee. Psalm 116:12.
Redeemed from guilt, redeemed from fears, My soul enlarged, and dried my tears, What can I do, O Love Divine, What to repay such gifts as thine?