O how can I forget the hour

1 Oh! how can I forget the hour,
When love divine I found;
The place was fill'd with sacred power,
And glory beam'd around:
My soul, relieved from sorrow's load,
From guilty bondage free,
Adored with joy the pardoning God,
That show'd such love to me.

2 For me, the earth and skies rejoiced
That I no more was sad;
The thirsty land with dew was moist,
The wilderness was glad;
The scenes of nature, then how bright,
My eyes rejoiced to view,
I praised the Lord with warm delight,
And thought they praised him too.

3 My darkness then to light gave place,
My guilt, to pardon free,
My rags of sin, to robes of grace,
And bonds, to liberty;
I toil'd no more, a wandering child,
In slavish, base employ,
But, safe at home, my Father smiled,
And feasted me with joy.

4 Nor did I then that bliss confine
Within my bounding breast;
The friends who pour'd their tears with mine,
Were sharers in the feast;
And angels on their watchful posts,
With gladness hasted round,
To tell to all the heavenly hosts,
"The long lost child is found."

Source: The Minstrel of Zion: a book of religious songs, accompanied with appropriate music, chiefly original #62