Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/52
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34
GRACIOUS INVITATION TO PERISHING SINNERS.
How long to streams of false delight
Will ye in crowds repair?
How long your strength and substance waste
On trifles light as air?
Will ye in crowds repair?
How long your strength and substance waste
On trifles light as air?
My stores afford those rich supplies
That health and pleasure give:
Incline your ear and come to me;
The soul that hears shall live.
That health and pleasure give:
Incline your ear and come to me;
The soul that hears shall live.
With you a cov'nant, I will make,
That ever shall endure;
The hope which gladdened David's heart
My mercy hath made sure.
That ever shall endure;
The hope which gladdened David's heart
My mercy hath made sure.
Behold He comes! your leader comes;
With might and honour crowned;
A witness who shall spread my name
To earth's remotest bound.
With might and honour crowned;
A witness who shall spread my name
To earth's remotest bound.
See! nations hasten to His call
From ev'ry distant shore;
Isles, yet unknown, shall bow to Him,
And Israel's God adore.
From ev'ry distant shore;
Isles, yet unknown, shall bow to Him,
And Israel's God adore.
Seek ye the Lord while yet His ear
Is open to your call;
While offered mercy still is near,
Before His footstool fall.
Is open to your call;
While offered mercy still is near,
Before His footstool fall.
Let sinners quit their evil ways,
Their evil thoughts forego,
And God, when they to Him return,
Returning grace will show.
Their evil thoughts forego,
And God, when they to Him return,
Returning grace will show.
He pardons with o'erflowing love;
For, hear the voice divine!
"My nature is not like to yours,
Nor like your ways are Mine:
For, hear the voice divine!
"My nature is not like to yours,
Nor like your ways are Mine:
"But far as heaven's resplendent orbs
Beyond earth's spot extend,
As far my thoughts, as far my ways,
Your ways and thoughts transcend.
Beyond earth's spot extend,
As far my thoughts, as far my ways,
Your ways and thoughts transcend.
"And as the rains from heaven distil,
Nor thither mount again,
But swell the earth with fruitful juice,
And all its tribes sustain:
Nor thither mount again,
But swell the earth with fruitful juice,
And all its tribes sustain: