L.M. 1 WHEREWITH, O God, shall I draw near, And bow myself before thy face? How in thy purer eyes appear? What shall bring to gain thy grace?
2 Will gifts delight the Lord most high? Will multiplied oblations please? Thousands of rams his favour buy, Or slaughtered hecatombs appease?
3 Can these avert the wrath of God? Can these wash out my guilty stain? Rivers of oil, and seas of blood, Alas! they all must flow in vain.
4 Whoe'er to thee themselves approve, Must take the path thy word hath showed, Justice pursue, and mercy love, And humbly walk by faith with God.
5 But though my life henceforth be thine, Present for past can ne'er atone; Though I to thee the whole resign, I only give thee back thine own.
6 What have I then wherein to trust? I nothing have, I nothing am; Excluded is my every boast, My glory swallowed up in shame
7 Guilty I stand before thy face, On me I feel thy wrath abide; 'Tis just the sentence should take place 'Tis just; - but O thy Son hath died!
8 Jesus, the Lamb of God hath bled, He bore our sins upon the tree; Beneath our curse he bowed his head; 'Tis finished! he hath died for me!
9 See where before the throne he stands, And pours the all-prevailing prayer; Points to his side, and lifts his hands, And shows that I am graven there.
10 He ever lives for me to pray; He prays that I with him may reign: Amen to what my Lord doth say! Jesus, thou canst not pray in vain.
