The Penitent Thief

1 Come see the power of Christ our King
When on the cross the Savior hung,
His grace a dying thief did bring,
To own him with his heart and tongue.

2 One malefactor scorned Christ's name,
The other did his sin reprove;
Then said by faith to God's dear Lamb,
"Remember me O Lord above."

3 What noble faith in him appeared,
That he could trust a dying Lord!
He soon the blessed Jesus heard
Pronounce this sweet reviving word;

4 "Amen, this day thy soul shall be
With me in Paradise above."
This made the dying prisoner free;
These words were full of boundless love.

5 What comfort did this speech convey,
To his poor guilty wretched mind!
When thus he heard the Savior say,
Great peace the criminal did find.

6 Thus Jesus Christ forgave the thief,
And showed great mercy to the nan;
So in the midst of woe and grief,
His joy and happiness began.

7 O how he sings the Savior's praise,
Who took him at the very last,
When he his youthful strength and days
In Satan's cause had spent and past!

8 Now he adores God's holy name,
And stands before the Savior's face;
And will eternally proclaim
The boundless riches of his grace!

The Christian's duty, exhibited in a series of hymns, 1791