A Selection of Hymns ‎#CCLXX

CCLXX. Penitential Sighs

1 Father, at thy call I come;
In thy bosom there is room
For a guilty soul to hide,
Press'd with grief on every side.

2 Here I'll make my piteous moan;
Thou canst understand a groan:
Here my sins, and sorrows tell;
What I feel thou knowest well.

3 Ah! how foolish I have been,
To obey the voice of sin,
To forget thy love to me,
And to break my vows to thee.

4 Darkness fills my trembling soul,
Floods of sorrow o'er me roll:
Pity, Father pity, me;
All my hope's alone in thee.

5 But may such a wretch as I,
Self-condemn'd and doom'd to die,
Ever hope to be forgiven,
And be smil'd upon by heaven?

6 May I round thee cling and twine,
Call myself a child of thine,
And presume to claim a part
In a tender Father's heart?

7 Yes, I may, for I espy
Pity trickling from thine eye:
'Tis a father's bowels move,
Move with pardon, and with love.

8 Well I do remember too
What his love hath deign'd to do;
How he sent a savior down,
All my Follies to atone.

9 Has my elder Brother died?
And is justice satisfied?
Why,O why should I despair
Of my father's tender care?

Text Information

• First Line: Father, at thy call I come
• Title: Penitential Sighs
• Author: Dr. S. Stennett
• Meter: Sevens
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1792
• Topic: Graces of the Spirit: Repentance; Penitent sighs

Tune Information

(No tune information)