Christ is the friend of sinners

Representative Text

1 Christ is the Friend of sinners;
Be that forgotten never;
A wounded soul,
and not a whole,
Becomes a true believer;
To see sin smarts but slightly;
To own, with lip confession,
Is easier still;
but O to feel
Cuts deep beyond expression.

2 [Trust not to joyous fancies,
Light hearts, or smooth behaviour;
Sinners can say,
and none but they,
“How precious is the Saviour!”
Then hail, ye happy mourners;
How blest your state to come is!
Ye soon will meet
with comfort sweet;
It is the Lord’s own promise.]

3 The contrite heart and broken
God will not give to ruin;
This sacrifice
he’ll not despise,
For ’tis his Spirit’s doing.
Then hail, ye happy mourners,
Who pass through tribulation;
Sin’s filth and guilt,
perceived and felt,
Make known God’s great salvation.

4 [Dry doctrine cannot save us,
Blind zeal, or false devotion;
The feeblest prayer,
if faith be there,
Exceeds all empty notion.
Then hail, ye happy mourners,
Ye will at last be winners;
By Jesus’ blood,
the righteous God
Now reconciles poor sinners.]

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #806

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Author: J. Hart

Hart, Joseph, was born in London in 1712. His early life is involved in obscurity. His education was fairly good; and from the testimony of his brother-in-law, and successor in the ministry in Jewin Street, the Rev. John Hughes, "his civil calling was" for some time "that of a teacher of the learned languages." His early life, according to his own Experience which he prefaced to his Hymns, was a curious mixture of loose conduct, serious conviction of sin, and endeavours after amendment of life, and not until Whitsuntide, 1757, did he realize a permanent change, which was brought about mainly through his attending divine service at the Moravian Chapel, in Fetter Lane, London, and hearing a sermon on Rev. iii. 10. During the next two years ma… Go to person page >

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