Peter's Fall and Recovery

Representative Text

1 How did the powers of darkness rage
Against the son of God!
While cruel men on earth engage
To shed his precious blood.

2 His friends forsook him with surprise,
When that dread scene began;
And one perfidiously denies
He ever knew the man.

3 How feeble human efforts prove
Against temptation's power!
E'en Peter's flaming zeal and love
Are vanquish'd in an hour.

4 His firmest purpose will not stand
Behold his guilt and shame!
Lord, keep me by thy mighty hand,
Or I shall do the same.

5 At length the suffering Savior turns,
And looks with pitying eyes;
Peter relents, withdraws and mourns,
And loud for mercy cries.

6 So boundless is Jehovah's grace,
He hears the humble prayer;
If I am found in Peter's case,
I would not still dispair.

7 Look on me, Lord, with eyes of love,
My wandering soul restore;
My guilt forgive, my fears remove,
And let me sin no more.

Source: A Selection of Hymns: from the best authors, intended to be an appendix to Dr. Watt's psalms and hymns. (1st Am. ed.) #CCCXIV

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Author: John Fawcett

An orphan at the age of twelve, John Fawcett (b. Lidget Green, Yorkshire, England, 1740; d. Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, 1817) became apprenticed to a tailor and was largely self-educated. He was converted by the preaching of George Whitefield at the age of sixteen and began preaching soon thereafter. In 1765 Fawcett was called to a small, poor, Baptist country church in Wainsgate, Yorkshire. Seven years later he received a call from the large and influential Carter's Lane Church in London, England. Fawcett accepted the call and preached his farewell sermon. The day of departure came, and his family's belongings were loaded on carts, but the distraught congregation begged him to stay. In Singers and Songs of the Church (1869), Josiah Miller te… Go to person page >

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