Despair prevented by trust in God

1 Lord who shall drive my trembling soul
From trust in thee to dark despair?
Who has surveyed the sacred roll,
And found my name not written there?

2 Presumptuous thought! to fix the bound,
To limit mercy's sovereign reign:
What other happy souls have found,
O may I seek, now seek in vain!

3 I own my guilt, my sins confess;
Can men or devils make them more?
Of crimes already numberless,
Vain the attempt to swell the score.

4 Were the blacklist before my sight,
While I remember thou hast died,
'Twill only urge my speedier flight,
To seek salvation at thy side.

5 Low at thy feet I'll cast me down,
To thee reveal my guilt and fear;
And--if thou spurn me from thy throne,
I'll be the first who perished there.

The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the most approved authors, 1799