Source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Olney Hymns, 1779)
Source URL: https://ccel.org/ccel/newton/olneyhymns
Public domain basis: First published London, 1779; Newton d. 1807, Cowper d. 1800. CCEL first-edition transcription. US public domain.
Coverage: Complete individual poem extracted from parent edition olney-hymns at bytes 341714-342520; checksum e9fc794f6dfc3acd17be9561ae46b2dbf568f53691a4a2a6b8a898648a5e724f.


# The heart healed and changed by mercy

Hymn 63

William Cowper

7,6,7,6,7,7,7,6

The heart healed and changed by mercy.

Sin enslaved me many years,

And led me bound and blind;

Till at length a thousand fears

Came swarming o'er my mind.

Where, I said in deep distress,

Will these sinful pleasures end?

How shall I secure my peace,

And make the LORD my friend?

Friends and ministers said much

The gospel to enforce;

But my blindness still was such,

I chose a legal course

Much I fasted, watched and strove,

Scarce would show my face abroad,

Feared, almost, to speak or move,

A stranger still to GOD.

Thus afraid to trust his grace,

Long time did I rebel;

Till, despairing of my case,

Down at his feet I fell:

Then my stubborn heart he broke,

And subdued me to his sway;

By a simple word he spoke,

"Thy sins are done away."