Preparation for Death, 43

Let me alone this only year,
In honour of Thy Son,
Who doth my Advocate appear
Before Thy gracious throne:
Thou hast vouchsafed a longer space,
And spared the barren tree,
Because for me my Saviour prays,
And pleads His death for me.

Time to repent Thou dost bestow;
But O the power impart,
And let my eyes with tears o'erflow
And break my stubborn heart!
To-day, while it is call'd to-day,
The hindering thing remove;
And, lo, I now begin to pray
And wrestle for Thy love.
; I now from all my sins would turn
To my atoning God;
And look on Him I pierced, and mourn,
And feel the sprinkled blood:
Would nail my passions to the cross,
Where my Redeemer died;
And all things count but dung and loss,
For Jesus crucified.
Giver of penitential pain,
Before Thy cross I lie,
In grief determined to remain,
Till Thou Thy Blood apply.
Forgiveness on my conscience seal,
Bestow Thy promised rest;
With purest love Thy servant fill,
And number with the bless'd.