Once perishing in blood I lay, <br />Creatures no help could give, <br />But Jesus passed me in the way, <br />He saw, and bid me live. <br /> <br />Though Satan still his rule maintained, <br />And all his arts employed; <br />That mighty Word his rage restrained, <br />I could not be destroyed. <br /> <br />At length the time of love arrived <br />When I my Lord should know, <br />Then Satan, of his pow'r deprived, <br />Was forced to let me go. <br /> <br />O can I e'er that day forget <br />When Jesus kindly spoke! <br />Poor soul, my blood has paid thy debt, <br />And now I break thy yoke. <br /> <br />Henceforth I take thee for my own, <br />And give myself to thee; <br />Forsake the idols thou hast known, <br />And yield thyself to me. <br /> <br />Ah, worthless heart! it promised fair, <br />And said it would be thine; <br />I little thought it e'er would dare <br />Again with idols join. <br /> <br />Lord, dost thou such backslidings heal, <br />And pardon all that's past? <br />Sure, if I am not made of steel, <br />Thou hast prevailed at last. <br /> <br />My tongue, which rashly spoke before, <br />This mercy will restrain; <br />Surely I now shall boast no more, <br />Nor censure, nor complain.<br /><br />John Newton<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/humbled-and-silenced-by-mercy/
