Sin, When Viewed by Scripture Light

Sin

when viewed by Scrip­ture light

Is a hor­rid

hate­ful sight;

But when seen in Sa­tan’s glass

Then it wears a pleas­ing face.

When the Gos­pel trum­pet sounds

When I think how grace ab­ounds

When I feel sweet peace with­in

Then I’d ra­ther die than sin.

When the cross I view by faith

Sin is mad­ness

poi­son

death;

Tempt me not

’tis all in vain

Sure I ne’er can yield again.

Satan

for awhile de­barred

When he finds me off my guard

Puts his glass be­fore my eyes

Quickly oth­er thoughts arise.

What be­fore ex­cit­ed fears

Rather pleas­ing now ap­pears;

If a sin

it seems so small

Or

per­haps

no sin at all.

Often thus

through sin’s de­ceit

Grief

and shame

and loss I meet

Like a fish

my soul mis­took

Saw the bait

but not the hook.

O my Lord

what shall I say?

How can I pre­sume to pray?

Not a word have I to plead

Sins

like mine

are black in­deed!

Made

by past ex­pe­ri­ence

wise

Let me learn Thy Word to prize;

Taught by what I’ve felt be­fore

Let me Sa­tan’s glass ab­hor.