RETURNING TO GOD by J. E. Rankin

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 10, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 57.

RETURNING TO GOD.

By J. E. Rankin

BY PRESIDENT J. E. RANKIN, D.D.

[From the German of Louisa Henrietta, Electress of Brandenburg.]

I WOULD from all the ill I've done To thee, my God, betake me. Thy help bestow, through thy dear Son, Thine heir, thy child, to make me. A new heart in me do thou form, My cold and dying graces warm, Nor let thy grace forsake me.

By nature can no man perceive His own deep desolation; Nor blind and deaf will he, Lord, grieve To find from sin, salvation. Perverse in will, perverse in deed, Thou art my spirit's sorest need; Hear thou my lamentation.

Lord, by thy grace awaken me To all my grievous sinning; Again my soul's Redeemer be, My heart to love thee winning. Now let me feel thee drawing near, My cares and burdens leaving here, With tears new life beginning.

Here is my heart; oh, make it clean! Of sins give me remission. I ask of thee the things I mean, Kneeling in deep contrition. Oh, ground my soul in thee anew, And help me fight faith's battle through, Nor heed the world's derision!

—N. Y. Observer.