THE PENITENT THIEF.

A bandit fierce, who long has been A foe to grace, a slave to sin;

A wretch who dies before his time The victim of detected crime And, nail'd to that inglorious tree, Writhes out his soul in agony! But( 0! the wonders of that love, Which brought the Saviour from above!) Almighty grace has reach'd his heart,

And while his guilt his spirit grieves, He learns to choose the better part, He turns- he looks- and he believes!

Yes in that pale, deserted One,

He sees, with faith's enlighten'd eye, Th' Eternal God's Eternal Son,

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Who stoops to earth to bleed and die! Adown his rough and toil- worn cheek Th' unwonted tear begins to roll; While broken, struggling accents speak The new- born feelings of his soul: " Lord!-When thy saints thy kingdom see, In mercy- Oh, remember me!"

And does the mild Redeemer spurn The hapless felon by his side? No! when was Jesus known to turn From those who in his grace confide?