1 Now I’m convinc'd the Lord is kind
To men of heart sincere,
Yet once my foolish thoughts repin'd,
And border'd on despair.
2 I griev'd to see the wicked thrive,
And spoke with angry breath,
“How pleasant and profane they live!
"How peaceful is their death!
3 "With well-fed flesh and haughty eyes
"They lay their fears to sleep;
"Against the heav'ns their slanders rise,
"While saints in silence weep.
4 "In vain I lift my hands to pray,
"And cleanse my heart in vain;
"For I am chast'ned all the day,
"The night renews my pain."
5 Yet while my tongue indulg'd complaints,
I felt my heart reprove;
"Sure I shall thus offend thy saints,
"And grieve the men I love."
6 But still I found my doubts too hard,
The conflict too severe;
'Till I retir'd to search thy word,
And learn thy secrets there.
7 There as in some prophetic glass,
I saw the sinner’s feet
High mounted on a slipp'ry place
Beside a fiery pit.
8 I heard the wretch profanely boast,
'Till at thy frown he fell;
His honours in a dream were lost,
And he awakes in hell.
9 Lord what an envious fool I was!
How like a thoughtless beast!
Thus to suspect thy promis'd grace,
And think the wicked blest.
10 Yet I was kept from full despair,
Upheld by pow'r unknown:
That blessed hand that broke the snare
Shall guide me to thy throne.
My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files
