The backslider

1 Oh no, I never can forget,
What raptures once were mine!
When first my soul the Saviour met,
And heard his voice divine:
The bliss of that transporting hour,
No angel heart can prove,
For angel heart ne'er felt the power--
The joys of pard'ning love.

2 Ah me! those happy days are flown,
My heart is left to mourn,
My joys, like early dew, are gone;
Oh! will they e'er return?
I seek for peace in pleasure's bowers,
Where others seek do I;
But earthly joys are fading flowers;
We touch them, and they die.

3 I smile on those who smile on me,
And they may think me blest;
But one alone my heart can see;
He knows it cannot rest.
Oh! had I ne'er my Lord denied,
Nor turn'd me from his voice,--
Ne'er wander'd from my Shepherd's side,
My heart could now rejoice.

4 Oh! could I break this double chain,
That binds me down to earth,
My captive soul would rise again,
And claim her heavenly birth:
But if to wo I sink at last,
Ensnared in Satan's net,
The gracious raptures of the past
I never can forget.

Source: The Minstrel of Zion: a book of religious songs, accompanied with appropriate music, chiefly original #20