JESUS! how my heart is pained, How it mourns for souls deceived, When I hear Thy name profaned, When I see Thy Spirit grieved!
Mourning thus I long had been, When I heard my Saviour’s voice, ‘You have cause to mourn for sin, But in Me you must rejoice!’
This kind word dispelled my grief, Put to silence my complaints, Though of sinners I am chief, He has ranked me with His saints.
Though constrained to dwell awhile Where the wicked strive and brawl, Let them rage, but He will smile; Heaven will make amends for all.
Let us, then, the fight endure, See our Saviour looking down, He will make the conquest sure, And bestow the promised crown.
John Newton, 1725-1807