Sweet Was the Time When First I Felt

Sweet was the time when first I felt

The Sav­ior’s par­don­ing blood

Applied

to cleanse my soul from guilt

And bring me home to God.

Soon as the morn the light re­vealed

His prais­es tuned my tongue;

And when the ev­en­ing shades pre­vailed

His love was all my song.

In vain the tempt­er spread his wiles

The world no more could charm;

I lived up­on my Sav­ior’s smiles

And leaned up­on His arm.

In pray­er my soul drew near the Lord

And saw His glo­ry shine;

And when I read His ho­ly Word

I called each pro­mise mine.

Then to His saints I oft­en spoke;

Of what His love had done;

But now my heart is al­most broke

For all my joys are gone.

Now when the ev­en­ing shade pre­vails

My soul in dark­ness mourns

And when the morn the light re­veals

No light to me re­turns.

My pray­ers are now a chat­ter­ing noise

For Je­sus hides His face;

I read

the pro­mise meets my eyes

But will not reach my case.

Now Sa­tan threat­ens to pre­vail

And make my soul his prey;

Yet

Lord

Thy mer­cies can­not fail

O come with­out de­lay.