5 The mortal's birth is past; The immortal's birth must be; Seek well and thou shalt find at last That blest nativity.
1 God of mercy! God of love! Hear our sad, repentant songs; Listen to Thy suppliant ones, Thou, to whom all grace belongs!
2 Deep regret for follies past, Talents wasted, time misspent; Hearts debased by worldly cares, Thankless for the blessings lent;--
3 Foolish fears and fond desires, Vain regrets for things as vain; Lips too seldom taught to praise, Oft to murmur and complain;--
4 These, and every secret fault, Filled with grief and shame, we own; Humbled at Thy feet we bow, Seeking strength from Thee alone.
5 God of mercy! God of love! Hear our sad, repentant songs; O, restore Thy suppliant ones, Thou to whom all grace belongs!
1 O, send me not away! for I would drink, Even I, the weakest, at the fount of life; Chide not my steps, that venture near the brink, Weary and fainting from the deadly strife.
2 Went I not forth undaunted and alone, Strong in the majesty of human might? Lo! I return, all wounded and forlorn, My dream of glory lost in shades of night.
3 Was I not girded for the battle-field? Bore I not helm of pride and glittering sword? Behold the fragments of my broken shield, And lend to me Thy heavenly armor, Lord!
1 O, richly, Father, have I been Blest evermore by Thee! And morning, noon, and night Thou hast Preserved me tenderly.
2 And yet the love which Thou shouldst claim To idols I have given; Too oft have bound to earth the hopes That know no home but heaven.
3 Unworthy to be called Thy son, I come with shame to Thee, Father!--O, more than Father, Thou Hast always been to me!
4 Help me to break the heavy chains The world has round me thrown, And know the glorious liberty Of an obedient son.
5 That I may henceforth heed whate'er Thy voice within me saith, Fix deeply in my heart of hearts A principle of faith,--
6 Faith that, like armor to my soul, Shall keep all evil out, More mighty than an angel host, Encamping round about.
1 Lord, have mercy when we pray Strength to seek a better way; When our wakening thoughts begin First to loathe their cherished sin; When our weary spirits fail, And our aching brows are pale; Then Thy strengthening grace afford; Then, O, then, have mercy, Lord!