Absurd and vain attempt, to bind

Absurd and vain attempt, to bind

Author: Thomas Scott
Published in 50 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Absurd and vain attempt! to bind
With iron chains the free-born mind,
To force conviction, and reclaim
The wand'ring by destructive flame.

2 Bold arrogance! to snatch from heaven
Dominion not to mortals given;
O'er conscience to usurp the throne,
Accountable to God alone.

3 Jesus! thy gentle law of love
Does no such cruelties approve;
Mild as thy self, thy doctrine wields
No arms but what persuasion yields.

4 By proofs divine, and reason strong,
It draws the willing soul along;
And conquests to thy church acquires
By eloquence which heaven inspires.

5 O happy, who are thus compell'd
To the rich feast, by Jesus held!
May we this blessing know, and prize
The light which liberty supplies.

Source: A Collection of Hymns and Prayers, for Public and Private Worship #445

Author: Thomas Scott

Thomas Scott was born at Norwich, and was the son of a Dissenting minister. After his education he began his ministerial life at Wartmell, in Norfolk, adding also the labours of school-teaching. Subsequently he changed his pastoral relations several times, spending the last years of his life at Hupton, in Norfolk, where he died in 1776. He was the author of some prose works, several poems, and a few hymns. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Absurd and vain attempt, to bind
Author: Thomas Scott
Copyright: Public Domain

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Instances

Instances (1 - 50 of 50)
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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy for the Use of Evangelical Lutheran Churches #350

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy #350

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A Collection of Hymns and Prayers, for Public and Private Worship #445

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