CII. The Complainer reformed

1 I set myself against the Lord,
Despis'd his spirit and his word,
And wish'd to take his place;
It vex'd me sore that I must die,
And perish too eternally,
Or else be sav'd by grace.

2 Of ev'ry preacher I'd complain,
One spoke thro' pride and one for gain,
Another's learning's small!
This spoke too fast and that too slow,
One pray'd too loud and one too low,
The other had no call.

3 With no professors could I join,
Some dress'd too mean and some too fine,
And some did talk too long;
Some had a tone, some had no gift,
Some talk'd so weak and some so swift,
That all of them were wrong.

4 I tho't they'd better keep at home,
Than to exhort where e'er they come,
And tell us of their joys;
They'd better keep their gardens free
From weeds,than to examine me,
And vex me with their noise.

5 Kindred and neighbors all were bad,
And no true friends were to be had--
My rulers were too vile:
At length I was brought for to see,
The fault did mostly lie in me,
And had done all the while.

6 The horrid loads of guilt and shame,
(Being conscious too I was to blame,)
Did wound my frighted soul;
I've sinn'd so much against my God,
I'm crush'd so low beneath his rod,
How can I be made whole?

7 But there is Balm in Gilead,
And a physician to be had,
A balsam too most free;
Only believe on God's dear son,
Thro' him the victory is won,
Christ Jesus dy'd for me.

8 For Christ's free love's a boundless sea;
What! to expire for such as me?
Yes, 'tis a truth divine;
My heart did melt, my soul o'er run
With love, to see what God had done,
For souls as mean as mine.

9 Now I can hear a child proclaim
The joyful news and praise the name
Of Jesus Christ my king;
I know no sect, Christians are one;
With my complaints I now have done,
And God's free grace I sing.

10 Glory to him who gave his Son,
To die for crimes which we have done,
And made salvation mine;
For as we'd fold ourselves for nought,
So without money we are bought,
A blessed truth divine.

11 Come saints rejoice in Christ our king,
His solemn praises sweetly sing,
And tell the world his love;
Sinners invite for to receive
Of God's free grace, and not to grieve
The holy sacred dove.

12 All those who do an interest gain,
In the bless'd Lamb that once was slain,
Will surely happy be;
Their loud hosannas they shall raise,
A monument of God's high praise,
To all eternity.

Text Information
First Line: I set myself against the Lord
Title: The Complainer reformed
Language: English
Publication Date: 1802
Tune Information
(No tune information)



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