When I by faith by Maker see

Representative Text

1 When I by faith my Maker see
In weakness and distress,
Brought down to that sad state for me
Which angels can’t express;

2 When that great God to whom I go
For help, amazed I view,
By sin and sorrow sunk as low
As I, and lower too;

3 [For all our sins we his may call,
As he sustained their weight;
How huge the heavy load of all,
When only mine’s so great!]

4 Then, ravished with the rich belief
Of such a love as this,
I’m lost in wonder, melt with grief,
And faint beneath the bliss.

5 [Prostrate I fall, ashamed of doubt,
And worship love divine;
Thus may I always be devout;
Be this religion mine.]

6 In this alone I can confide;
Here’s righteousness enough.
What’s all the boast of nature’s pride?
What unsubstantial stuff!

7 [Rounds of dead service, forms, and ways,
Which some so much esteem,
Compared with this stupendous grace,
What trivial trash they seem!]

8 Lord, help a worthless worm, so weak
He can do nothing good;
May all I act, or think, or speak,
Be sprinkled with thy blood!

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #105

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Author: J. Hart

Hart, Joseph, was born in London in 1712. His early life is involved in obscurity. His education was fairly good; and from the testimony of his brother-in-law, and successor in the ministry in Jewin Street, the Rev. John Hughes, "his civil calling was" for some time "that of a teacher of the learned languages." His early life, according to his own Experience which he prefaced to his Hymns, was a curious mixture of loose conduct, serious conviction of sin, and endeavours after amendment of life, and not until Whitsuntide, 1757, did he realize a permanent change, which was brought about mainly through his attending divine service at the Moravian Chapel, in Fetter Lane, London, and hearing a sermon on Rev. iii. 10. During the next two years ma… Go to person page >

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