How sad and awful is my state

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How sad and awful is my state

Author: John Cennick
Tune: UPTON (Mason)
Published in 29 hymnals

Representative Text

1 How sad and awful is my state!
The very thing I do, I hate!
When I to God draw near in pray'r,
I feel the conflict even there!

2 I mourn, because I cannot mourn,
I hate my sin, yet cannot turn;
I grieve, because I cannot grieve,
I hear the truth, but can't believe.

3 Where shall so great a sinner run?
I see I'm ruin'd and undone;
Dear Lord, in pity now draw near,
And banish ev'ry rising fear.

4 Thy blood dear Lord, which thou hast spilt,
Can make this rocky heart to melt;
Thy blood can make me clean within--
Thy blood can pardon all my sin.

5 'Tis on the atonement of that blood,
I now approach to thee, my God;
This is my hope, this is my claim,
Jesus has died and wash'd me clean.

Source: Hymns, Selected and Original: for public and private worship (1st ed.) #260

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Author: John Cennick

John Cennick was born at Reading, Berkshire, in the year 1717. He became acquainted with Wesley and Whitefield, and preached in the Methodist connection. On the separation of Wesley and Whitefield he joined the latter. In 1745, he attached himself to the Moravians, and made a tour in Germany to fully acquaint himself with the Moravian doctrines. He afterwards ministered in Dublin, and in the north of Ireland. He died in London, in 1755, and was buried in the Moravian Cemetery, Chelsea. He was the author of many hymns, some of which are to be found in every collection. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.… Go to person page >

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