Humbled and Silenced by Mercy

Once perishing in blood I lay; Creatures no help could give; But Jesus pass’d me in the way, He saw, and bade me live.

Though Satan still his rule maintain’d, And all his arts employ’d; That mighty word his rage restrain’d, I could not be destroy’d.

At length the time of love arrived, When I my Lord should know; Then Satan, of his power deprived, Was forced to let me go.

O can I e’er that day forget, When Jesus kindly spoke! “Poor soul, my blood has paid thy debt, And now I break thy yoke.

“Henceforth I take thee for my own, And give myself to thee; Forsake the idols thou hast known, And yield thy heart to me.”

Ah, worthless heart! it promised fair, And said it would be thine; I little thought it e’er would dare Again with idols join.

Lord, dost thou such backslidings heal, And pardon all that’s past? Sure, if I am not made of steel, Thou hast prevail’d at last.

My tongue, which rashly spoke before, This mercy will restrain; Surely I now shall boast no more, Nor censure, nor complain.