The Sanctuary A Companion in Verse for the English Prayer Book. By Robert Montgomery |
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General Confession.
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 | The Sanctuary |  |
General Confession.
“We have erred and strayed from Thy ways like lost sheep.”
—Prayer Book.
When some bow'd sinner, on his bended knees,
A guardian-Angel in confession sees,
He shades him with celestial wing;
And as that contrite pleader yearns, and cries
That Blood Divine may cleanse him for the skies,—
Watches the Soul thus worshipping.
A guardian-Angel in confession sees,
He shades him with celestial wing;
And as that contrite pleader yearns, and cries
That Blood Divine may cleanse him for the skies,—
Watches the Soul thus worshipping.
But, if one heart can thus intensely move
Those wing'd Adorers, who but live to love,
And brighten o'er repenting Man,
How are they thrill'd, when thronging myriads meet
In temple-courts, to clasp the Mercy-Seat
And cry, as Earth's redeemed can,
Those wing'd Adorers, who but live to love,
And brighten o'er repenting Man,
How are they thrill'd, when thronging myriads meet
In temple-courts, to clasp the Mercy-Seat
And cry, as Earth's redeemed can,
“Father of Souls! absolve Thine erring child,
To Self devoted, and by Sin defiled,
Who far has stray'd from Thee, and Heaven;
To the green pastures of Thy Word, and Will,
Sheep of Thy flock and fold, oh! lead us still,—
Fearful, but yet by grace forgiven.
To Self devoted, and by Sin defiled,
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To the green pastures of Thy Word, and Will,
Sheep of Thy flock and fold, oh! lead us still,—
Fearful, but yet by grace forgiven.
Read in the light of Thine all-searching Law,
What countless stains pure conscience never saw
These roving hearts of shame present!
Omission and commission, both are ours,
And oft have sacrificed anointed Powers
And robb'd the Lord Omnipotent.
What countless stains pure conscience never saw
These roving hearts of shame present!
Omission and commission, both are ours,
And oft have sacrificed anointed Powers
And robb'd the Lord Omnipotent.
Healthless and hopeless, thus on Thee we call,
Equal in guilt, for equal mercy all,
Great Shepherd of Thy chosen sheep!
Thine is the merit, mis'ry ours, alone;
Till balm and blessing from Thy gracious Throne
Comfort the wounded Hearts that weep.
Equal in guilt, for equal mercy all,
Great Shepherd of Thy chosen sheep!
Thine is the merit, mis'ry ours, alone;
Till balm and blessing from Thy gracious Throne
Comfort the wounded Hearts that weep.
| The Sanctuary | |