Verse 1
God ever near to the distrest,
When to thy gracious throne they fly,
In ours regard thy Son’s request,
In ours attend thy Spirit’s cry.

Verse 2
The hearts of kings are in thy hand
Turn’d as the rivers of the sea
They melt at thy supreme command,
And take the course prescrib’d by Thee.

Verse 3
Whom thy Vicegerent we confess
To mercy, Lord, his heart incline,
And on his soften’d soul impress
That brightest character divine.

Verse 4
Now let him kindly condescend,
Reverse the merciless decree,
And to a guilty worm extend
The grace he needs himself from Thee.

Verse 5
The mercy ask’d in Jesus Name
Be in his royal bosom found,
The bowels of that bleeding Lamb
In him, in him this moment sound!

Verse 6
If Thou our instant suit approve,
If mercy be thy own design,
Give him no rest, Almighty Love,
Till his resolve submits to thine.

Verse 7
But if thy sovereign awful will
Hath fixt a dying sinner’s doom,
Thy pardon on his conscience seal
The earnest sure of joys to come;

Verse 8
Whom man accounts not fit to live
Thy poor, repenting Servant own,
Into thy mercy’s arms receive,
And make him partner of thy throne.