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.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 1, pp. 78-79; Collection of Hymns Adapted to Public Worship, no. 151 (all stanzas); Poems, 1780, vol. 1, pp. 67-68; MS, Steele Collection, STE 3/1/1 no. 32, Angus Library, Regents Park College,  Oxford.