On the brink of fiery ruin

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On the brink of fiery ruin

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1 On the brink of fi'ry ruin,
Justice, with a flaming sword,
Was my guilty soul pursuing
When I first beheld my Lord.

2 Terrify'd with Sinai's thunder,
Straight I flew to Calvary,
Where I saw with love and wonder,
Hi by faith who died for me.

3 "Sinner," he exclaim'd, "I've lov'd thee
With an everlasting love;
Justice has in me approv'd thee;
Thou shalt dwell with me above."

4 Sweet as angels' notes in heaven,
When to golden harps they sound,
Is the voice of sins forgiven,
To the soul by satan bound.

5 Sweet as angels' harps in glory,
Was that heavenly voice to me,
When I saw my Lord before me
Bleed and die to set me free!

6 Saints, attend with holy wonder!
Sinners, hear and sing his praise!
'Tis the God that holds the thunder
Shows himself the God of grace!

Source: Hymns, Selected and Original: for public and private worship (1st ed.) #358

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Author: Swain

Swain, Joseph, was born at Birmingham in 1761, and after being apprenticed to an engraver, removed to London. After a time he became a decided Christian, and being of an emotional poetic temperament, began to give expression to his new thoughts and feelings in hymns. In 1783 he was baptized by the Rev. Dr. Rippon, and in 1791 became minister of a Baptist congregation in East Street, Walworth. After a short but popular and very useful ministry, he died April 16, 1796 Swain published the following:— (1) A Collection of Poems on Several Occasions, London, 1781; (2) Redemption, a Poem in five Books, London, 1789; (3) Experimental Essays on Divine Subjects, London, 1791; (4) Walworth Hymns, by J. Swain, Pastor of the Baptist Church Meeting… Go to person page >

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