1 Vain man on foolish pleasures bent,
Prepares for his own punishment;
What pains, what loathsome maladies
From luxury and lust arise!
2 The drunkard feels his vitals waste;
Yet drowns his health to please his taste;
Till all his active powers are lost,
And fainting life draws near the dust.
3 The glutton groans, and loaths to eat,
His soul abhors delicious meet;
Nature, with heavy loads opprest
Would yield to death to be releas'd.
4 Then how the frighten'd sinners fly
To God for help with earnest cry!
He hears their groans, prolongs their breath,
And saves them from approaching death.
5 No med'cines could effect the cure
So quick, so easy, or so secure:
The deadly sentence God repeals,
He sends his sovereign word, and heals.
6 Oh may the sons of men record
The wondrous goodness of the Lord!
And let their thankful offering prove
How they adore their Maker's love.