The Cyber Hymnal ‎#6444

6444. Sin, When Viewed by Scripture Light

1. Sin, when viewed by scripture light,
Is a horrid, hateful sight;
But when seen in Satan’s glass,
Then it wears a pleasing face.

2. When the gospel trumpet sounds,
When I think how grace abounds,
When I feel sweet peace within,
Then I’d rather die than sin.

3. When the cross I view by faith,
Sin is madness, poison, death;
Tempt me not, ’tis all in vain,
Sure I ne’er can yield again.

4. Satan, for awhile debarred,
When he finds me off my guard,
Puts his glass before my eyes,
Quickly other thoughts arise.

5. What before excited fears,
Rather pleasing now appears;
If a sin, it seems so small,
Or, perhaps, no sin at all.

6. Often thus, through sin’s deceit,
Grief, and shame, and loss I meet,
Like a fish, my soul mistook,
Saw the bait, but not the hook.

7. O my Lord, what shall I say?
How can I presume to pray?
Not a word have I to plead,
Sins, like mine, are black indeed!

8. Made, by past experience, wise,
Let me learn thy word to prize;
Taught by what I’ve felt before,
Let me Satan’s glass abhor.

Text Information

• First Line: Sin, when viewed by scripture light
• Title: Sin, When Viewed by Scripture Light
• Author: John Newton (1779)
• Meter: 77.77
• Language: English
• Source: Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779), number 76
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: BALTIMORE
• Composer: Unknown
• Meter: 77.77
• Incipit: 11113 21332 53454
• Key: E♭ Major
• Source: Sunday-School Hymnal (St. Louis, Missouri: Concordia Publishing House, 1912)
• Copyright: Public Domain