The Cyber Hymnal ‎#4591

4591. No Strength of Nature Can Suffice

1. No strength of nature can suffice
To serve the Lord aright;
And what she has, she misapplies,
For want of clearer light.

2. How long beneath the Law I lay
In bondage and distress!
I toiled the precept to obey,
But toiled without success.

3. Then to abstain from outward sin
Was more than I could do;
Now, if I feel its power within,
I feel I hate it too.

4. Then all my servile works were done
A righteousness to raise;
Now, freely chosen in the Son,
I freely choose His ways.

5. What shall I do was then the word,
That I may worthier grow?
What shall I render to the Lord?
Is my inquiry now.

6. To see the Law by Christ fulfilled,
And hear His pardoning voice;
Changes a slave into a child,
And duty into choice.

Text Information

• First Line: No strength of nature can suffice
• Title: No Strength of Nature Can Suffice
• Author: William Cowper (1779)
• Meter: CM
• Language: English
• Source: Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779), number 62
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Al­ter­nate tune: ABIDING GRACE, John S. Camp, cir­ca 1905

Tune Information

• Name: ABERDEEN
• Composer (attributed to): An­drew Tait
• Meter: CM
• Incipit: 12351 27132 54321
• Key: G Major
• Source: Melody from Rudiments of Music, by Robert Bremner, 1756; James Chal­mers’ un­ti­tled col­lect­ion, 1749
• Copyright: Public Domain