A sinner lamenting the delay of divine grace

1 Long have I walked this dreary road,
Beset with darkness round;
Nor seen nor heard a smiling God,
Nor one bright moment found.

2 Others, who once did join my speech,
And mourned in painful lay,
Now mounting up with rapture, stretch
To seize the heavenly day.

3 Far left behind to feel my woe,
With hardened heart to groan,
Each prayer, each struggle sinks me low,
Each breath repeats my moan.

4 The lengthened day, the gloomy night,
Draw fast the bands of grief;
Sometimes despair o'erclouds my sight,
And says, there's no relief.

5 Then conscience thunders, Sinai flames,
I try again to rise;
The trial fails, and conscience blames
My prayers, my tears, my cries.

6 If hope perchance a moment gleams,
And says, Christ's blood was split;
My heart of sin beclouds the beams,
And seals my death and guilt.

7 'Tis thus perplexed, forlorn and lost,
I spend my weary days;
No Jesus comes my hopes are crossed,
While others sing and praise.

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