THE PRAYER OF THE PUBLICAN by Cornelius Elven

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 16, 1876

THE PRAYER OF THE PUBLICAN.

By Cornelius Elven

With broken heart and contrite sigh, A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry; Thy pardoning grace is rich and free; O God! be merciful to me!

I smite upon my troubled breast, With deep and conscious guilt oppressed, Christ and his cross my only plea; O God! be merciful to me!

Far off I stand with tearful eyes, Nor dare uplift them to the skies; But thou dost all my anguish see; O God! be merciful to me!

Nor alms, nor deeds that I have done, Can for a single sin atone; To Calvary alone I flee; O God! be merciful to me!

And when, redeemed from sin and hell, With all the ransomed throng I dwell, My raptured song shall ever be, God has been merciful to me!

—Cornelius Elven.