Hymn to the Father
Heavenly father, God of mercy,
Look upon a sinful soul;
For, the waves of sad contrition,
Now above me darkly roll.
Ah! my crimes are dark and grievous,
The huge burthen hard to bear;
All the day and night I’m sighing
Whelm’d in grief and dark despair.
Ah! how deeply I have fallen
From my high and happy state,
Where, enrob’d in thy dear image,
Once, in tranquil peace, I sate.
Black with sores, a loathsome leper,
Lo! I wait before Thy throne;
Cans’t thou, Maker, wilt thou heal me,
Make me whole and all thine own?
Oh! Thy grace is freely gushing,
Boundless is Thy wondrous Love;
And for all Thy erring children,
Lord, Thy tender bowels move.
Hail! Supreme, Exhaustless Mercy,
Christ hath freed my soul from sin;
And a holy calm comes o’er me,
And a heavenly peace within.