When With A Mind Devoutly Pressed

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When with my mind divinely pressed

Author: Moses Browne
Published in 41 hymnals

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Representative Text

1 When with my mind devoutly press'd,
Dear Saviour, my revolving breast
Would past offences trace;
Trembling I make the black review,
Yet pleas'd behold, admiring too,
The pow'r of changing grace.

2 This tongue with blasphemies defil'd,
These feet to erring paths beguil'd,
In heav'nly league agree.
Who would believe such lips could praise,
Or think from dark and winding ways,
I e'er should turn to thee?

3 These eyes that once abus'd the light,
Now lift to thee their wat'ry sight,
And weep a silent flood;
These hands are rais'd in ceaseless pray'r,
Oh wash away the stains they wear,
In pure redeeming blood.

4 These ears that once could entertain
The midnight oath, the lustful strain,
Around the festive board;
Now deaf to all th' enchanting noise,
Avoid the throng, detest the joys,
And long to hear thy word.

5 Thus art thou serv'd in ev'ry part,
Go on, bless'd Lord to cleanse my heart,
That drossy thing refine;
That grace may nature's pow'rs control,
And a new creature, body, soul,
Be all and wholly thine!

Source: The Hartford Selection of Hymns: from the most approved authors: to which are added a number never before published (2nd ed.) #CCV

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Author: Moses Browne

Browne, Moses, was born in humble circumstances in 1703, and was distinguished as a poet and miscellaneous writer. He was Vicar of Olney, Bucks, and for some time Chaplain of Morden College, Blackheath, Kent, where he died Sept. 13, 1787. His poetical works were:— (1) Poems, 1739; (2) The Works, and Rest of the Creation,in two parts. Pt. i. An Essay on the Universe; Pt. ii. Sunday Thoughts, &c, 1752 (6th edition, 1805). His hymns are contained in Pt. iv. of the Sunday Thoughts, together with versions of Ps. 130 and 139. He is known chiefly through his hymn "When with a mind devoutly pressed" (Penitence), which is "Night Song, No. viii.," in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, of the Sunday Thoughts, having originally appeared in his Poems, 1739, p. 45… Go to person page >

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First Line:	When with my mind divinely pressed
Title:	When With A Mind Devoutly Pressed
Author:	Moses Browne
Meter:	8.8.6.8.8.6
Source:	Poems on Various Subjects (London: Edward Cave, 1739)
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain