1 STAY, thou insulted Spirit, stay,
Though I have done thee such despite,
Nor cast the sinner quite away,
Nor take thine everlasting flight.
2 Though I have steeled my stubborn heart,
And still shook off my guilty fears,
And vexed, and urged thee to depart,
For many long rebellious years;
3 Though I have most unfaithful been
Of all who e'er thy grace received,
Ten thousand times thy goodness seen,
Ten thousand times thy goodness grieved;
4 Yet O! the chief of sinners spare,
In honour of my great High-priest,
Nor in thy righteous anger swear
To exclude me from thy people's rest.
5 This only woe I deprecate.
This only plague I pray remove;
Nor leave me in my lost estate,
Nor curse me with this want of love.
6 Now, Lord, my weary soul release,
Up-raise me with thy gracious hand.
And guide into thy perfect peace,
And bring me to the promised land.