16.
[Far from a world of noisy care]
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, &c.
—iii. 3.
Far from a world of noisy care,
I to the wilderness repair,
In silence and retreat
Roused by the soul-awakening cry,
I hear the news of Jesus nigh,
And His forerunner meet.
I feel the voice that cries “Repent,”
And struck with conscious grief, lament
The sins which I confess,
In hope to find at last restored
The kingdom of my heavenly Lord,
The justice, joy, and peace.
Allured and strengthen'd from above
I every obstacle remove,
With every idol part;
The Spirit is His Harbinger,
And Jesus doth Himself prepare
His way into my heart.
Repentance is His work before,
And wrought to this I wait the power
Of faith and love Divine:
Come Lord, and bring Thy kingdom in,
Destroy the tyranny of sin,
And reign for ever mine.
