Blest Lord, behold the guilty scorn

1 Blest Lord, behold the guilty scorn
Of those who hate and mock our praise,
Pity their state and make them turn,
No more to walk in sinful ways.

2 Anxious we see their wretched state,
Who never think of heaven or hell;
They laugh and sport and court the gate
Which opes where endless terrors dwell.

3 If prayer and faith did e'er prevail,
Now help us, Lord, to raise our hands;
Prepare our hearts thy grace to hail,
Then break their soul-destroying band.

4 Lead them to view a sinful heart,
A soul all enmity to thee,
Destroyed, defiled in every part,
Too proud to bow, to blind to wee.

5 Lead them to view a holy law,
Which justly dooms to endless death,
To feel that guilt which Jesus saw,
And prayed forgive, with dying breath.

6 Open their eyes, unstop their ears,
To hear condemning justice sound;
Lord change their hearts, and then their tears
Will witness grief to all around.

7 Once we were blind, like them we strove,
Till sovereign mercy changed our ways;
Lord bow their wills, and make them love,
Then they will join our songs of praise.

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