Dear friend of guilty sinners, hear

Verse 1

Dear friend of guilty sinners, hear, And magnify thy grace divine; Pardon a worm that would draw near, And make his heart to thee resign, A worm, by guilt and sin distressed, That pants to reach the promised rest.

Verse 2

With holy fear, and reverend love, I long to lie beneath thy throne; In thee to live, in thee to move, And stay myself on thee alone: Teach me to lean upon thy breast, To find in thee the promised rest.

Verse 3

Sure, Lord, thou wilt thy servants keep, And bless them with thy gracious smiles, A gentle shepherd of thy sheep, To guard them from the tempter's wiles; How calm their state, how truly blest, Who trust in thee for promised rest.

Verse 4

Take me, dear Savior, for thine own, And make me love thy righteous case; Be thou my portion, Lord, alone, And bend me to obey thy laws: Let me in thy dear arms be blest, And find in thee the promised rest!