_The Need of Regeneration._ (396) How helpless guilty nature lies, Unconscious of its load! The heart, unchanged, can never rise To happiness and God. 2 Can aught, beneath a power divine, The stubborn will subdue? 'Tis thine, almighty Spirit! thine, To form the heart anew. 3 'Tis thine, the passions to recall, And upward bid them rise; To make the scales of error fall, From reason's darkened eyes. 4 Oh! change these wretched hearts of ours, And give them life divine; Then shall our passions and our powers, Almighty Lord! be thine. Anne Steele, 1760. 182 Downs. C.M. _Pardon and Sanctification in Christ._ (397) How sad our state by nature is! Our sin--how deep it stains! And Satan binds our captive minds, Fast in his slavish chains. 2 But there's a voice of sovereign grace Sounds from the sacred word;-- "Ho! ye despairing sinners! come And trust a faithful Lord." 3 My soul obeys the gracious call And runs to this relief; I would believe thy promise, Lord! Oh! help my unbelief. 4 To the blest fountain of thy blood, Incarnate God! I fly; Here let me wash my spotted soul, From crimes of deepest dye. 5 A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, On thy kind arms I fall; Be thou my strength and righteousness My Jesus, and my all. Isaac Watts, 1707. 183 Downs. C.M. _Man's Need of the New Birth._ (400) Sinners, this solemn truth regard, Hear, all ye sons of men; For Christ, the Savior, hath declared, "Ye must be born again." 2 Whate'er might be your birth or blood, The sinner's boast is vain; Thus saith the glorious Son of God, "Ye must be born again." 3 That which is born of flesh is flesh, And flesh it will remain: Then marvel not that Jesus saith, "Ye must be born again." 4 Spirit of life, thy grace impart, And breathe on sinners slain: Bear witness, Lord, in ev'ry heart, That we are born again. John Fawcett. 184 Rockbridge. L.M. _Man's Need of Christ._ (402) Buried in shadows of the night We lie, till Christ restores the light; Till he descends to heal the blind, And chase the darkness of the mind. 2 Our guilty souls are drowned in tears, Till his atoning blood appears; Then we awake from deep distress, And sing the Lord our righteousness. 3 Jesus beholds where Satan reigns, And binds his slaves in heavy chains; He sets the prisoners free, and breaks The iron bondage from our necks. 4 Poor, helpless worms in thee possess Grace, wisdom, power, and righteousness Thou art our mighty all, and we Give our whole selves, O Lord, to thee. Isaac Watts, 1709. 185 Melody. C.M. _Law and Grace._ (399) Vain are the hopes, the sons of men On their own works have built; Their hearts by nature all unclean, And all their actions, guilt. 2 Let Jew and Gentile stop their mouths, Without a murm'ring word; And the whole race of Adam stand Guilty before the Lord.