The Backslider's Pardon

Verse 1

Lord, and is thine anger gone? And art thou pacify'd? After all that I have done, Dost thou no longer chide? Infinite thy mercies are; Beneath the weight I cannot move, O 'tis more that I can bear, The sense of pard'ning love!

Verse 2

Let it still my heart constrain, And all my passions sway; Keep me, lest I turn again Out of the narrow way; Force my vi'lence to be still, And captivate my ev'ry thought; Charm and melt, and change my will, And bring me down to nought.

Verse 3

If I have begun once more Thy sweet return to feel; If even now I find thy pow'r Present my soul to heal: Still and quiet may I be, Nor struggle out of thine embrace; Never more resist or fly From thy pursuing grace.

Verse 4

To the cross, thine altar, bind Me with the cords of love; Freedom let me never find Form my dear Lord to move; That I never, never more May with my much-lov'd Master part, To the posts of mercy's door O nail my willing heart.

Verse 5

See my utter helplessness, And leave me not alone; O preserve in perfect peace, And seal me for thine own! More and more thyself reveal, Thy presence let me always find; Comfort and confirm, and heal, My feeble, sin-sick mind.

Verse 6

As the apple of an eye Thy weakest servant keep; Help me at thy feet to lie, And there for ever weep: Tears of joy mine eyes o'erflow, That I've an hope of heav'n; Much of love I ought to know, For I have much forgiv'n.