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“I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins.”
WEARY of earth and laden with my sin, | |
| I look at heaven and long to enter in, | |
| But there no evil thing may find a home— | |
| And yet I hear a Voice that bids me “Come.” | |
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| So vile I am, how dare I hope to stand | 5 |
| In the pure glory of that holy land? | |
| Before the whiteness of that Throne appear?— | |
| Yet there are Hands stretched out to draw me near. | |
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| The while I fain would tread the heavenly way, | |
| Evil is ever with me day by day— | 10 |
| Yet on mine ears the gracious tidings fall, | |
| “Repent, confess, thou shalt be loosed from all.” | |
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| It is the voice of JESUS that I hear, | |
| His are the Hands stretched out to draw me near, | |
| And His the Blood that can for all atone, | 15 |
| And set me faultless there before the Throne. | |
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| ’Twas He Who found me on the deathly wild, | |
| And made me heir of heaven, the FATHER’S child, | |
| And day by day, whereby my soul may live, | |
| Gives me His grace of pardon, and will give. | 20 |
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| O great Absolver, grant my soul may wear | |
| The lowliest garb of penitence and prayer, | |
| That in the FATHER’S courts my glorious dress | |
| May be the garment of Thy righteousness. | |
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| Yea, Thou wilt answer for me, Righteous LORD: | 25 |
| Thine all the merits, mine the great reward; | |
| Thine the sharp thorns, so mine the golden crown, | |
| Mine the life won, through Thine the life laid down. | |
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| Naught can I bring, dear LORD, for all I owe, | |
| Yet let my full heart what it can bestow; | 30 |
| Like Mary’s gift let my devotion prove, | |
| Forgiven greatly, how I greatly love. | |
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