Olney Hymns (1840)/Book 1/Hymn 82
82.
The Leper.—Matt, viii, 2, 3.
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.
My own described I feel:
Sin is a leprosy indeed
Which none but Christ can heal.
2 Awhile I would have pass'd for well,
And strove my spots to hide,
Till it broke out incurable,
Too plain to be denied.
And strove my spots to hide,
Till it broke out incurable,
Too plain to be denied.
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!"
And dreaded to be seen;
I thought they all would point at me.
And cry, "Unclean, unclean!"
4 What anguish did my soul endure
Till hope and patience ceased!
The more I strove myself to cure,
The more the plague increased.
Till hope and patience ceased!
The more I strove myself to cure,
The more the plague increased.
5 While thus I lay distress'd, I saw
The Saviour passing by;
To him, though fill'd with shame and awe,
I raised my mournful cry.
The Saviour passing by;
To him, though fill'd with shame and awe,
I raised my mournful cry.
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.
For thou canst all things do;
O cleanse my leprous soul from guilt,
My filthy heart renew.
7 He heard, and with a gracious look
Pronounced the healing word;
"I will—be clean," and while he spoke
I felt my health restored.
Pronounced the healing word;
"I will—be clean," and while he spoke
I felt my health restored.
8 Come, lepers, seize the present hour,
The Saviour's grace to prove;
He can relieve, for he is power—
He will, for he is love.
The Saviour's grace to prove;
He can relieve, for he is power—
He will, for he is love.