We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from Thy precepts and from Thy judgments.
Daniel 9:5
Words: Isaac Watts, Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1707–09, Book 2, number 105. Repentance flowing from the patience of God.
Music: Greenwich William Richardson, in The Pious Recreation, 1729 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Richardson (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
And are we wretches yet alive?
And do we yet rebel?
’Tis boundless, ’tis amazing love,
That bears us up from hell!
The burden of our weighty guilt
Would sink us down to flames;
And threatening vengeance rolls above,
To crush our feeble frames.
Almighty goodness cries, Forbear!
And straight the thunder stays;
And dare we now provoke His wrath,
And weary out His grace?
Lord, we have long abused Thy love,
Too long indulged our sin;
Our aching hearts e’en bleed to see
What rebels we have been.
No more, ye lusts, shall ye command,
No more will we obey;
Stretch out, O God, Thy conquering hand,
And drive Thy foes away.