Humbled And Silenced By Mercy

Once perishing in blood I lay, Creatures no help could give, But Jesus passed me in the way, He saw, and bid me live. Though Satan still his rule maintained, And all his arts employed; That mighty Word his rage restrained, I could not be destroyed. At length the time of love arrived When I my Lord should know, Then Satan, of his pow'r 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 thyself 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 prevailed at last. My tongue, which rashly spoke before, This mercy will restrain; Surely I now shall boast no more, Nor censure, nor complain.