Matthew 7: A never-fading crown

A never-fading crown.
Have I not ask'd, and ask'd again
And pray'd ten thousand times in vain
For power and liberty,
A rrtan of lips and heart unclean?
Yet still I cannot cease from sin,
Yet still I am not free.
How can it be most gracious Lord,
If Thou art faithful to Thy word?
The sole exception I,
I seem of all the ransom'd race
Alone excluded from Thy grace,
And left in sin to die.
Do I not still for mercy pray?
Take this oppressive sin away.
This unbelief remove
My desperate misery relieve.
And peace and power and freedom give
By giving me Thy love.

Why do I not receive it now?
Righteous in all Thy judgments Thou
Explain the mystery;
Or let me still in darkness own,
Howe'er unseen, howe'er unknown,
The hindrance is in me.

Could I but ask, and ask aright,
My Saviour soon would give me light,
Would soon Himself impart:
O for that supplicating power!
O might I from this happy hour
Obtain a praying heart!

Indulge me in this one request,
And lo, I trust Thee for the rest,
Thou God of faithful love,
And sure of all Thou canst bestow,
In sorrow or in joy I go
To praise Thy truth above.