Oft as the leper’s case I read

The words

1. 1

   Stanza 1. Oft as the leper’s case I read,My own described I feel;Sin is a leprosy indeed,Which none but CHRIST can heal.

2. 2

   Stanza 2. Awhile I would have passed for well,And strove my spots to hide;Till it broke out incurable,Too plain to be denied.

3. 3

   Stanza 3. Then from the saints I sought to flee,And dreaded to be seen;I thought they all would point at me,And cry, “Unclean, unclean!”

4. 4

   Stanza 4. What anguish did my soul endure,Till hope and patience ceased?The more I strove myself to cure,The more the plague increased.

5. 5

   Stanza 5. While thus I lay distressed, I sawThe Savior passing by;To him, though filled with shame and awe,I raised my mournful cry.

6. 6

   Stanza 6. LORD, thou canst heal me if thou wilt,For thou canst all things do;O cleanse my leprous soul from guilt,My filthy heart renew!

7. 7

   Stanza 7. He heard, and with a gracious look,Pronounced the healing word;“I will, be clean” — and while he spokeI felt my health restored.

8. 8

   Stanza 8. Come lepers, seize the present hour,The Savior’s grace to prove;He can relieve, for he is pow’r,He will, for he is love.

Olney Hymns (1779), Book 1, Hymn 82. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/1-82