soul that sin forsakes.

V

O Christ, to Thee our praise ascends,
Whose love the needy soul befriends;
For, by Thy cross our souls are free
To love and praise, eternally.

I

O God, in mercy hear,
I lift my cry to Thee,
And let Thy gracious help be sent
In my perplexity;
But Thou art far away,
And I am filled with shame,
I cannot see Thy blessed face,
And fear to name Thy name.

II

And now a sense of guilt
Inspires me with dismay,--
I know that none on earth can take
That awful load away;
'Tis mine, the sin, 'tis mine,
And mine the guilt to bear,
The awful burden of the blame,
The cloud of dark despair.

III

Is there no balm to heal?
No pity that can bless?--
O God, Who art so far away,
Be near in my distress;
And heed the tears I shed,
And hear my woeful cry;
And since there is no hand to help,
Come Thou in mercy nigh.

IV

'Twas then a voice I heard,--
It came in winning tone,
Across my night, from far away,
To where I prayed alone;
It told me of a love,
That sought me long ago,
And on the cross my burden bore,
Of sin, and guilt, and woe.

V

O blessed cross of Christ!
Thou hast my need supplied,
For there, upon thy outstretched arms
I see the Crucified;
And He has sin to bear,
That none can call His own,--
O Christ, the sin and guilt Thou bor'st,
Are mine, are mine, alone.

I

Come to the Christ in tears,
And in His hearing tell
Thy sins, and griefs, and fears,
The wants He knoweth well;
Fear not to bring a large request,
He gives, and giveth of His best.

II

Come to the Christ in tears:
The contrite heart He wills;
And every prayer He hears,
And every vessel fills;--
We never ask, and sigh unblest,
He gives, and giveth of His best.

III

Come to the Christ in tears;--
As when the clouds depart
A glorious light appears--
So joy shall flood the heart;