Self-Acquaintance

Dear Lord! accept a sinful heart,
Which of itself complains,

Dear Lord! accept a sinful heart,
Which of itself complains,
And mourns, with much and frequent smart,
The evil it contains.

There fiery seeds of anger lurk,
Which often hurt my frame;
And wait but for the tempter’s work
To fan them to a flame.

Legality holds out a bribe
To purchase life from thee;
And Discontent would fain prescribe
How thou shalt deal with me.

While Unbelief withstands thy grace,
And puts the mercy by;
Presumption, with a brow of brass,
Says, “Give me, or I die!”

How eager are my thoughts to roam
In quest of what they love!
But ah! when Duty calls them home,
How heavily they move!

Oh, cleanse me in a Saviour’s blood,
Transform me by thy power,
And make me thy beloved abode,
And let me roam no more.

William Cowper