The words
Stanza 1. No words can declare,No fancy can paint,What rage and despair,What hopeless complaint,Fill Satan’s dark dwelling,The prison beneath;What weeping and yelling,And gnashing of teeth!
Stanza 2. Yet sinners will chooseThis dreadful abode,Each madly persuesThe dangerous road;Though God give them warningThey onward will go,They answer with scorning,And onward do go.
Stanza 3. How sad to beholdThe rich and the poor,The young and the old,All blindly secure!All posting to ruin,Refusing to stop;Ah! think what you’re doing,While yet there is hope!
Stanza 4. How weak is your handTo fight with the LORD!How can you withstandThe edge of his sword?What hope of escapingFor those who oppose,When hell is wide gapingTo swallow his foes?
Stanza 5. How oft have you daredThe Lord to his face!Yet still you are sparedTo hear of his grace;O pray for repentanceAnd life–giving faith,Before the just sentenceConsign you to death.
Stanza 6. It is not too lateTo JESUS to flee,His mercy is great,His pardon is free;His blood has such virtueFor all that believe,That nothing can hurt you,If him you receive.
Olney Hymns (1779), Book 3, Hymn 1. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/3-1
