The Southern harmony, and musical companion containing a choice collection of tunes, hymns, psalms, odes, and anthems |
 | 1. |
[O, once I had a glorious view] |
 | 2. |
|
 | The Southern harmony, and musical companion |  |
55
[O, once I had a glorious view]
1
O, once I had a glorious viewOf my redeeming Lord;
He said, I'll be a God to you,
And I believed his word.
But now I have a deeper stroke
Than all my groanings are;
My God has me of late forsook,—
He's gone, I know not where.
2
O what immortal joys I felt,On that celestial day,
When my hard heart began to melt,
By love dissolved away!
But my complaint is bitter now,
For all my joys are gone;
I've stray'd!—I'm left!—I know not how.
The light's from the withdrawn.
3
Once I could joy the saints to meet,To me they were most dear;
I then could stoop to wash their feet,
And shed a joyful tea
But now I meet them as the rest,
And with them joyless stay;
My conversation's spiritless,
Or else I've naught to say.
4
I once could mourn o'er dying men,And long'd their souls to win;
I travail'd for their poor children,
And warn'd them of their sin:
But now my heart's so careless grown,
Although they're drown'd in vice,
My bowels o'er them cease to yearn—
My tears have left mine eyes.
5
I forward go in duty's way,But can't perceive him there;
Then backwards on the road I stray,
But cannot find him there:
On the left hand, where he doth work,
Among the wicked crew,
And on the right, I find him not,
Among the favour'd few.
6
What shall I do?—shall I lie down.And sink in deep despair?
Will he for ever wear a frown.
Nor hear my feeble pray'r?
No: he will put his strength in me,
He knows the way I've stroll'd
And when I'm tried sufficiently.
I shall come forth as gold.
| The Southern harmony, and musical companion | |