Alas alas how blind I've been

1 Alas! alas how blind I've been,
How little of myself I've seen!
Sportive I sailed the sensual tide,
Thoughtless of God whom I defied.

2 I heard of heaven, I heard of hell,
Where bliss and woe eternal dwell;
But mocked the threats of truth divine,
And scorned the place where angels shine.

3 My angry heart refused the blood
Of a descending, suffering God;
And guilty passion boldly broke
The holy law which heaven had spoke.

4 The alluring world controlled my choice,
When conscience spoke, I hushed its voice,
Securely laughed along the road,
Which hapless millions first had trod.

5 Now the almighty God comes near,
And makes me shake with awful fear;
His terrors all my strength exhaust,
My fear grows high, my peace is lost.

6 With keen remorse I feel my wound,
And seem to hear the dreadful sound,
"Depart from me, thou wretch undone,
Go reap thy sin, and fell my frown."

7 Thus ends my mirthful thoughtless life,
Filled up with folly, guilt and strife;
Perhaps I sink to endless pain,
Nor hear the voice of joy again.

The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the most approved authors, 1799