Christ revealed in a soul slain by the law

1 Smote by thy law, I'm justly slain,
Great God, behold my case;
Pity a sinner filled with pain,
Nor drive me from thy face.

2 Dread terrors fright my guilty soul,
thy justice, all in flames,
Gives sentence on this heart so foul,
So hard, so full of crimes.

3 'Tis trembling hardness that I feel;
I fear, but can't relent,
Perhaps of endless death the seal:
Oh that I could repent!

4 My prayers, my tears, my vows are vile,
My duties black with guilt;
On such a wretch can mercy smile,
Though Jesu's blood was spilled?

5 Speechless I sink to endless night,
I see an opening hell:
But lo! what glory strikes my sight?
Such glory who can tell!

6 Enwrapped in these bright beams of peace,
I feel a gracious God:
Swell, swell the note; Oh, tell his grace!
Sound his high praise abroad!

7 Now rise, my soul, adore and love,
Leave sin and hell behind;
Give all thy powers to heaven above,
And praise the eternal mind.

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