With sorrow now for past misdeeds,

I turn to Thee, O Lord,

Assured the help my conscience needs

Thy mercy will afford,

And, through thy Spirit, grace instil

To cleanse my heart, subdue my will,

And make me keep thy Word.

We see not till renewed in mind

Our lost and sinful state;

As willing captives, deaf, and blind

To thy good Spirit’s light,

We follow sin’s perfidious law:

Father, yet more that veil withdraw

Which has obscured my sight.

Speak, Lord, in love’s awakening tone,

And make me now recall

The wilful acts that I have done,

And in thy sight done all:

Thou canst my wandering heart reclaim,

And cause hot burning tears of shame

And penitence to fall.

The riches of thy mercy, Lord,

On me have largely flowed;

Life, and the joys with which ’tis stored

Thou freely hast bestowed;

Not only sent me daily bread,

But blessings showered upon my head,

And fenced from ills my road.

Me Thou hast saved from hell’s dark flood,

Through Christ, the living God,

And strown with every earthly good

The paths which I have trod;

My only fear, amidst my bliss,

Proofs of a Father’s love to miss,

The chastenings of his rod.

Yet in return, should one enquire

If I have served Thee well,

My heart and conscience both conspire

Another tale to tell:

In every part the serpent, sin,

With deadly fang has eaten in;

Remorse I cannot quell.

The sins and follies of my youth

In fearful muster pass,

With undisguised and naked truth,

Before stern memory’s glass:

The terrors of thy judgment-seat,

And hell’s gulf yawning at my feet,

How shall I flee, alas!

I thought, as blindly on I went,

Like one who walks in sleep,—

Some future day I will repent,

God will his mercy keep;

Not gladly doth the Lord afflict.

He suffereth long, He is not strict,

The Shepherd with the sheep.

Now all has burst upon my sight,

And I am sore afraid,

Lest thunder of thy righteous Might

Strike my defenceless head;

Through fierceness of thy wrathful cup,

Both death and hell Thou stirrest up,

With threatening aspect dread.

Lord Jesu Christ, to Thee I flee,

In thy deep Wounds to hide;

O let my soul’s safe refuge be

Thy pierced and gaping side;

Since in my stead, Thou Lamb of God,

Thou hast endured the chastening rod,

And on the Cross hast died.

Thy holy Father’s Throne before,

This Ransom, Lord, present;

Remembering then my sins no more,

His justice will relent,

And in the depths of ocean vast

Thy self-inflicted load will cast,

If truly I repent.

From this time forth will I begin

With watchful care to shun

The world’s vain paths, and paths of sin,

And all risk sooner run,

Than trespass with deliberate will:

Thy grace sufficient grant me still,

Lord, till my course is done.