1 Lord, whither shall I flee,
That I may be secure,
The law proclaims destruction near,
And thunders round me roar.
2 My guilty conscience speaks,
And tells me of my crime;
How foolish I have spent my days,
And wasted all my time.
3 And Satan he presents,
That 'tis too late to pray:
The time and means of grace are spent,
And I have lost my day.
4 Now horrors seize my mind,
With darkness and despair,
I must be driven from earth to hell,
To where the damned are.
5 These thoughts distress my mind,
And I am filled with fear,
While I am held in hard suspence,
Presumption or despair.
6 If I continue, here,
I surely shall be lost;
If I go back to sin again,
Damnation will be just.
7 I'll risk my 'ternal all,
I'll prostrate on the ground,
Dear Jesus for one sovereign word,
To heal my mortal wound.
8 Unto thy feet I fall,
And sovereign mercy crave;
Dear Jesus thou, and thou alone,
Art able for to save.
9 And whilst the Lord delays,
My heart begins to break,
Yet suddenly some joys I feel;
I hear a Savior speak:
10 "Cheer up, for I have died,
My precius blood is spilt;
Behold my flowing crimson stream,
To wash away your guilt."
11 My fears and grief and guilt,
Bid instantly depart,
Strange and surprisingly I felt,
Wrapt in my savior's heart.
12 Strangely my state was changed,
And I began to sing,
All glory to the God of love,
Who doth such sweetness bring.
13 I'll praise thee while I live,
I'll praise thee when I die,
I'll praise thee when I rise again,
And to eternity.
Divine Hymns, or Spiritual Songs: for the use of religious assemblies and private Christians 1800