XLVI. THE SAME.
Hymn 4.
[O Thou, whom once they flock'd to hear]
O Thou, whom once they flock'd to hear,
Thy words to hear, Thy power to feel,
Suffer the sinners to draw near,
And graciously receive us still.
They that be whole, Thyself hast said,
No need of a physician have:
But I am sick, and want Thine aid,
And ask Thine utmost power to save.
Past human help I long have been,
With every soul disease oppress'd;
Weary of life through pain and sin,
And only Thou canst give me rest.
Thy power, and truth, and love Divine
The same from age to age endure:
A word, a gracious word of Thine
The most inveterate plague can cure.
Thy garment, O Thou pardoning God,
Affords the desperate soul relief,
Dries up the fountain of my blood,
And heals at once my sin and grief.
Touch'd by Thine all-restoring hands
I find a soul-erecting power,
Suddenly loosed from Satan's bands
I stand—inclined to earth no more.
Helpless howe'er my spirit lies,
(And long hath languish'd,) at the pool,
A word of Thine shall make me rise,
Shall speak me in a moment whole.
Eighteen, or eight and thirty years,
Or thousands are alike to Thee:
Soon as Thy saving grace appears,
My plague is gone, my heart is free.
Come then, O Lord, my sins forgive,
My complicated sickness heal,
Thou know'st, I would in Thee believe,
I would Thy pardoning mercy feel.
Make this the acceptable hour,
Come, O my soul's Physician Thou,
Display Thy justifying power,
And show me Thy salvation now!
