Commemorative Hymn, Part 2

Here let me pause, and fix mine eye
On that mysterious grace;
Unseen, unfelt, it still was nigh
Throughout my youthful days:
Glory to God alone I give!
Instructed from above,
Father, I now with joy perceive
The wisdom of Thy love.

How has Thy love contrived to keep
From sin's abhorr'd extreme.
Till waken'd out of nature's sleep,
And virtue's golden dream!
How strangely didst Thou hedge me in,
So prone to every vice.
And damp my eager love of sin
By sacred cov/ardice!

Thy mercy placed my parents good
As guardian angels near.
And with Thy flaming sword they stood.
To' inspire me with Thy fear:
The voice which cried in them, " Beware,"
I now revere as Thine;
Not kept from ill by human care,
But Providence Divine.
Hymns and Poems. 39 ii
What but a miracle of grace
Could keep my soul within
The mouth of hell, the murderer's ways,
The public schools of sin;
Where troops of young corrupters tried
In wickedness to' excel,
Lewdness their vile delight, and pride
Their boasted principle?
I found Thy hand, again beset,
And saved by grace alone,
Where learning keeps its loftiest seat.
And hell its firmest throne:
Satan and sloth had smooth'd my way
To pleasure's paradise;
Yet still I paused, afraid to stray,
Or plunge the gulf of vice.
How wisely timed the help that came
In my extremity,
And bade the Law its prisoner claim,
And shut me up for Thee!
Within the iron walls immured,
I now Thy goodness bless,
By servile fear for years secured
From my own wickedness.
Loosed from the chains of unbelief,
From legal bondage freed,
I felt the joy that follow'd grief,
And love that banish'd dread:
To me, beneath the wrath of God,
The pardoning grace -how sweet.
When, bruised to death by Moses rod.
I fell at Jesu's feet!

Still at His feet I humbly own
Thy uniform design,
The Spirit of fear and love was one,
Was given to make me Thine:
Wherefore with reverend joy I praise
Thine all-redeeming plan,
The various wisdom of Thy ways,
And charity to man.