Latinised Hymns

Approach, my soul, the mercy-seat,

Approach, my soul, the mercy-seat,
Where Jesus answers prayer;
Then humbly fall before his feet,
For none can perish there.

Thy promise is my only plea,
With this I venture nigh:
Thou callest burdened souls to thee,
And such, O Lord, am I.

Bowed down beneath a load of sin,
By Satan sorely pressed,
By war without and fears within,
I come to thee for rest.

Be thou my shield and hiding-place,
That, sheltered near thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face,
And tell him thou hast died.

O wondrous love, to bleed and die,
To bear the Cross and shame,
That guilty sinners, such as I,
Might plead thy gracious name!

J. Newton

Ad Iesum (est orabilis
favetque supplici)
quin, anima, te proicis?
Est nulla mors ibi.

Id promisisti quod peto
te veniens prope,
onustos, qualis en! ego,
vocantem, Domine.

Premunt gravi Diabolus
me culpae subditum
extraque bella, intra metus:
tu da mihi otium.

Habere te scutum volo;
te juxta lateam;
saevoque te adversario
mactatum proferam.

Ut nos amasti, proditus
in cruce moriens,
testandum nomen sontibus
mihique* porrigens!

MM 26–31.1.98

* ut mihi