Hymns for Those that Seek and Those that Have Redemption, 40

To — ' ' The Lord my pasture shall prepare."

O WONDROUS power of faithful prayer,
What tongue can tell the' almighty grace?
God's hands or bound or open are,
As Moses or Elijah prays:
Let Moses in the spirit groan,
And God cries out, " Let Me alone /"

"Let Me alone, — that all My wrath
May rise, the wicked to consume:
While Justice hears thy praying faith
It cannot seal the rebel's doom,
My Son is in My servant's prayer,
And Jesus forces Me to spare."

O blessed words of gospel grace,
Which now we for our Israel plead;
A faithless and backsliding race,
Whom Thou hast out of Egypt freed:
O do not then in wrath chastise,
Nor let Thy whole displeasure rise.

Father, we ask in Jesu's name,
In Jesu's power and spirit pray,
Divert Thy vengeful thunder's aim,
O turn Thy threatening wrath away,
Our guilt and punishment remove,
And magnify Thy pardoning love.

Or if Thy hand be lifted up,
Now let it on Thy rebels fall,
Unless thy yearning bowels stop
The stroke, and Jesus prays for all,
Unless Thou hear'st His Spirit groan,
Who will not let Thy wrath alone.

Dost Thou not see our labouring heart
Big with unutterable prayer?
Thou shalt, Thou must Thy wrath avert,
And spare whom Jesus bids Thee spare:
His death demands that we should live,
And still the Victim gasps, Forgive!

He cries, and weeps, and groans, and bleeds,
As for our sins this moment slain,
The blood of sprinkling speaks, and pleads,
And lo! we share His mortal pain!
Our cries are mingled with His cries,
Our tears gush out at Jesu's eyes.

Father, regard Thy pleading Son,
Accept His all-availing prayer,
And send the peaceful answer down,
In honour of our Spokesman there,
Whose blood proclaims our sins forgiven,
And speak Thy rebels up to heaven.