1 Stay, Thou insulted Spirit! stay,
Though I have done Thee such despite;
Nor cast the sinner quite away,
Nor take Thine everlasting flight.

2 Though I have steeled my stubborn heart,
And oft shaken off my guilty fears;
And vexed and urged Thee to depart,
For many long rebellious years,--

3 Though I have most unfaithful been
Of all who e'er Thy grace received,
Ten thousand times Thy goodness seen,
Ten thousand times Thy goodness grieved.

4 Yet oh! the chief of sinners spare
In honor of my great High-Priest:
Nor in Thy righteous anger swear
T'exclude me from Thy people's rest.

5 This only woe I deprecate,
This only plague I pray remove,
Nor leave me in my lost estate,
Nor curse me with this want of love.

6 E'en now my weary soul release,
Upraise me with Thy gracious hand,
And guide into Thy perfect peace,
And bring me to the promised land.