Hymn 151. The Heavenly Guest

Rev. 3. 20.

And will the Lord thus condescend

To visit sinful worms?

Thus at the door, shall Mercy stand

In all her winning forms?

Surprizing grace! – and shall my heart

Unmov’d and cold remain?

Has this hard rock no tender part?

Must Mercy plead in vain?

Shall Jesus for admission sue,

His charming voice unheard?

And this vile heart, his rightful due

Remain for ever barr’d?

’Tis Sin, alas, with tyrant power

The lodging has possest;

And crouds of traitors bar the door

Against the heavenly Guest.

Lord, rise in thy all-conquering grace,

Thy mighty power display;

One beam of glory from thy face

Can drive my foes away.

Ye dangerous inmates, hence depart;

Dear Saviour, enter in,

And guard the passage to my heart,

And keep out every sin.

Collection of Hymns Adapted to Public Worship, no. 151 (all six stanzas); Poems, 1780, vol. 1, pp. 67-8; MS, Steele Collection, Angus Library, Regents Park College, STE 3/1/1 no. 32; also Nonconformist Women Writers, vol. 1, pp. 78-79.