Lord, how secure my conscience was
1
Lord, how secure my conscience was,And felt no inward dread!I was alive without the law,And thought my sins were dead.
2
My hopes of heaven were firm and bright:But since the precept cameWith a convincing power and light,I find how vile I am.
3
My guilt appeared but small before,Till terribly I sawHow perfect, holy, just, and pure,Was thy eternal law.
4
Then felt my soul the heavy load,—My sins revived again;I had provoked a dreadful God,And all my hopes were slain.
5
My God, I cry with every breathFor some kind power to save,To break the yoke of sin and death,And thus redeem the slave.