University of Virginia Library

IN TEMPTATION.

Where, my soul, is now thy boast?
Where the sense of sin forgiven?
Destitute, tormented, lost,
Down the stream of nature driven,
Crush'd by sin's redoubled load;
Where, my soul, is now thy God?
Far from me my God is gone,
All my joys with Him are fled,
Every comfort is withdrawn,
Peace is lost, and hope is dead;
Sin, and only sin I feel,
Pride and lust, self-will and hell.

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Did I then my soul deceive?
Rashly claim a part in Thee?
Did I, Lord, in vain believe,
Falsely hope Thou diedst for me?
Must I back my hopes restore,
Trust Thou diedst for me no more?
No—I never will resign
What of Thee by faith I know;
Never cease to call Thee mine,
Never will I let Thee go:
Be it I my soul deceive,
Yet I will, I will believe.
Though I groan beneath Thy frown,
Hence I will not, cannot fly;
Though Thy justice cast me down,
At thy mercy-seat I lie;
Let me here my sentence meet,
Let me perish at Thy feet!