How Oft, Alas!

How oft

alas! this wretch­ed heart

Has wan­dered from the Lord!

How oft my rov­ing thoughts de­part

Forgetful of His Word.

Yet sov­er­eign mer­cy calls

Re­turn;

Dear Lord

and may I come?

My vile in­gra­ti­tude I mourn;

Oh take the wan­der­er home.

And canst Thou

wilt Thou yet for­give

And bid my crimes re­move?

And shall a par­doned re­bel live

To speak Thy won­drous love?

Almighty grace

thy heal­ing pow­er

How glo­ri­ous

how di­vine!

That can to bliss and life re­store

So vile a heart as mine.

Thy par­don­ing love

so free

so sweet

Dear Sav­ior

I ad­ore;

O keep me at Thy sac­red feet

And let me rove no more.