Classic Poem

I.

High was the crime, great was the fall,
And fatal was the daring blow,
When man with paradise and all,
Plung'd in a labyrinth of wo.

II.

Deep did the damning poison seize,
The num'rous throng of human race;
Beyond all help for their disease,
But by Jehovah's arm of grace.

III.

And when redeeming love comes down,
By the incarnate Son of GOD ;
How many disregard the crown,
While others think to spill his blood!

IV.

Where GOD his boundless grace has spread,
Ten thousand souls sink deeper still;
Beneath the curse among the dead,
Against the Saviour's love and will.

V.

While life is sounding in their ears,
And heav'nly floods spread all around;
They turn their backs, and drown their fears;
And thus of choice to hell they're bound.

VI.

How many sinners sit and hear,
The glorious gospel trump in vain;
Sleeping in sin, they rest secure,
Till they awake in endless pain.

VII.

Thousands and tens of thousands more
Pretend to love the gospel sound,
Who hold the form, and hate the pow'r;
Despite the cross, and lose the crown,

VIII.

And thus of all the sinking race,
O shocking thought! there is but few
Who e'er obtain that work of grace
That forms the inmost soul anew.

IX.

O pity, Lord, these heirs of death,
That lay condemn'd to endless night:
Breathe, O immortal spirit, breathe
And make them children of the light.