Olney Hymns (1840)/Book 1/Hymn 77
77.
A Brand plucked out of the Fire.—Zech. iii, 1—5.
1 With Satan, my accuser, near,
My spirit trembled when I saw
The Lord in majesty appear,
And heard the language of his law.
My spirit trembled when I saw
The Lord in majesty appear,
And heard the language of his law.
2 In vain I wish'd and strove to hide
The tatter'd filthy rags I wore:
While my fierce foe insulting cried,
"See what you trusted in before!"
The tatter'd filthy rags I wore:
While my fierce foe insulting cried,
"See what you trusted in before!"
3 Struck dumb, and left without a plea,
I heard my gracious Saviour say,
"Know, Satan, I this sinner free,—
I died to take his sins away.
I heard my gracious Saviour say,
"Know, Satan, I this sinner free,—
I died to take his sins away.
4 "This is a brand which I in love
To save from wrath and sin design;
In vain thy accusations prove;
I answer all, and claim him mine."
To save from wrath and sin design;
In vain thy accusations prove;
I answer all, and claim him mine."
5 At this rebuke the tempter fled;
Then He removed my filthy dress;
"Poor sinner, take this robe," He said,
"It is thy Saviour's righteousness.
Then He removed my filthy dress;
"Poor sinner, take this robe," He said,
"It is thy Saviour's righteousness.
6 "And see a crown of life prepared!
That I might thus thy head adorn;
I thought no shame of suff'ring hard,
But wore for thee a crown of thorn."
That I might thus thy head adorn;
I thought no shame of suff'ring hard,
But wore for thee a crown of thorn."
7 O, how I heard these gracious words!
They broke and heal'd my heart at once;
Constrained me to become the Lord's,
And all my idol-gods renounce.
They broke and heal'd my heart at once;
Constrained me to become the Lord's,
And all my idol-gods renounce.
8 Now, Satan, thou hast lost thy aim;
Against this brand thy threats are vain;
Jesus has pluck'd it from the flame,
And who shall put it in again?
Against this brand thy threats are vain;
Jesus has pluck'd it from the flame,
And who shall put it in again?