- In evil long I took delight,
Unaw’d by shame or fear,
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopp’d my wild career. - I saw One hanging on a tree,
In agonies and blood,
Who fix’d His languid eyes on me,
As near His cross I stood. - Sure never till my latest breath
Can I forget that look;
It seem’d to charge me with His death,
Though not a word He spoke. - My conscience felt and own’d the guilt,
And plung’d me in despair;
I saw my sins His blood had spilt,
And help’d to nail Him there. - Alas! I knew not what I did;
But now my tears are vain:
Where shall my trembling soul be hid,
For I the Lord have slain? -
A second look He gave, which said,
“I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid,
I die that thou may’st life.” -
Thus, while His death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue,
(Such is the mystery of grace),
It seals my pardon too. -
With pleasing grief, and mournful joy,
My spirit now is fill’d,
That I should such a life destroy,
Yet live by Him I kill’d!