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Another8686Originally published at the end of the Sermon entitled “Free Grace,” preached at Bristol; and inserted also in the “Arminian Magazine,” vol. 1, p.135.
Hear, holy, holy, holy Lord, Father of all mankind, Spirit of truth, eternal Word, In mystic union join’d! |
Hear, and inspire my stammering tongue, Exalt my abject thought, Speak from my mouth a sacred song, Who spak’st the world from nought. |
Thy darling attribute I praise, Which all alike may prove,— The glory of Thy boundless grace, Thy universal love. |
Mercy I sing, transporting sound, The joy of earth and heaven! Mercy, by every sinner found, Who takes what God hath given. |
Mercy for all Thy hands have made, Immense, and unconfined, Throughout Thy every work display’d, Embracing all mankind. |
Thine eye survey’d the fallen race, When sunk in sin they lay; Their misery call’d for all Thy grace, But justice stopp’d the way. |
Mercy the fatal bar removed; Thy only Son it gave, To save a world so dearly loved, A sinful world to save. |
For every man He tasted death, He suffered once for all; He calls as many souls as breathe, And all may hear the call. |
A power to choose, a will to obey, Freely His grace restores; We all may find the living way. And call the Saviour ours. |
Whom His eternal mind foreknew, That they the power would use, Ascribe to God the glory due, And not His grace refuse; |
Them, only them His will decreed, Them did He choose alone, Ordain’ d in Jesu’s steps to tread, And to be like His Son. |
Them, the elect, consenting few, Who yield to proffer’d love, Justified here, He forms anew, And glorifies above. |
For as in Adam all have died, So all in Christ may live, May (for the world is justified) His righteousness receive. |
Whoe’er to God for pardon fly, In Christ may be forgiven: He speaks to all, “Why will ye die, And not accept My heaven?” |
No! in the death of him that dies (God by His life hath sworn) He is not pleased; but ever cries, “Turn, O ye sinners, turn.” |
He would that all His truths should own, His Gospel all embrace, Be justified by faith alone, And freely saved by grace. |
And shall I, Lord, confine Thy love, As not to others free? And may not every sinner prove The grace that found out me? |
Doubtless through one eternal now Thou ever art the same; The universal Saviour Thou, And Jesus is Thy name. |
Ho! every one that thirsteth, come! Choose life; obey the Word; Open your hearts to make Him room, And banquet with your Lord. |
When God invites, shall man repel? Shall man the exception make? “Come, freely come, whoever will, And living water take.” |
Thou bidd’st; and wouldst Thou bid us choose, When purposed not to save? Command us all a power to use Thy mercy never gave? |
Thou canst not mock the sons of men; Invite us to draw nigh, Offer Thy grace to all, and then Thy grace to most deny! |
Horror to think that God is hate! Fury in God can dwell! God could an helpless world create, To thrust them into hell! |
Doom them an endless death to die, From which they could not flee:— No, Lord! Thine inmost bowels cry Against the dire decree! |
Believe who will that human pain Pleasing to God can prove: Let Molock feast him with the slain; Our God, we know, is love. |
Lord, if indeed, without a bound, Infinite Love Thou art, The HORRIBLE DECREE confound, Enlarge Thy people’s heart! |
Ah! who is as Thy servants blind, So to misjudge their God! Scatter the darkness of their mind, And shed Thy love abroad. |
Give them conceptions worthy Thee, Give them, in Jesu’s face, Thy merciful design to see, Thy all-redeeming grace. |
Stir up Thy strength, and help us, Lord; The preachers multiply; Send forth Thy light, and give the word, And let the shadows fly. |
O! if Thy Spirit send forth me, The meanest of the throng, I’ll sing Thy grace divinely free, And teach mankind the song. |
Grace will I sing, through Jesu’s name, On all mankind bestow’d; The everlasting truth proclaim, And seal that truth with blood. |
Come then, Thou all-embracing Love, Our frozen bosom warm; Dilating fire, within us move, With truth and meekness arm. |
Let us triumphantly ride on, And more than conquerors prove; With meekness bear the opposers down, And bind with cords of love. |
Shine in their hearts, Father of Light; Jesu, Thy beams impart; Spirit of Truth, our minds unite, And keep us one in heart. |
Then, only then our eyes shall see Thy promised kingdom come; And every heart, by grace set free, Shall make the Saviour room. |
Thee every tongue shall then confess, And every knee shall bow: Come quickly, Lord we wait Thy grace, We long to meet Thee now. |
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