Adventist Pioneer Library

The Sinner — Christ the Way of Life

Lord, we are vile, and full of sin

  • No. 362
  • 4 stanzas
  • Words only in the original

Words

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1

Lord, we are vile, and full of sin,We 're born unholy and unclean;Sprung from the man whose guilty fallCorrupts his race, and taints us all.

2

Soon as we draw our infant breathThe seeds of sin grow up for death;Thy law demands a perfect heart,But we 're defiled in every part.

3

Behold, we fall before thy face;Our only refuge is thy grace:No outward forms can make us clean;The leprosy lies deep within.

4

Nor bleeding bird, nor bleeding beast,Nor hyssop branch, nor earthly priest,Nor running brook, nor flood, nor sea,Can wash the dismal stain away.

About this hymn

As printed Words only. As printed: hymn number «362» (large) in the left column of p. 120 below hymn 361, reference line «171, 28, 314,» in italics (sing to the tune of hymn 171, 28 or 314; the line ends with a comma, not a period), four numbered stanzas, NO author line (the column ends with stanza 4 at the foot of the page). The first word «LORD» is set in capitals and small capitals. The print sets a thin space before «;» and «:» («unclean ;», «death ;», «face ;», «grace :», «clean ;»); it is closed up here. «We 're» and «we 're» are printed with a space before the apostrophe and are kept so. Spelling, punctuation and capitals are the print's. The four lines of each stanza are set flush (no indentation). No meter is printed (the text is L. M., 8.8.8.8, in couplets).

Source
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book (Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1886/1888)
Where
The Sinner — Christ the Way of Life · No. 362 · printed page 120
Checked
lyrics verified (fork reading; parent check pending) · 2026-10-01