Is This Thy Kindness to Thy Friend?

I

Poor, weak, and worthless, though I am,
I have a rich, almighty Friend;
Jesus, the Saviour, is his name,
He freely loves, and without end.

II

He ransom’d me from hell with blood,
And by his power my foes control’d;
He found me wand’ring far from God,
And brought me to his chosen fold.

III

He cheers my heart, my want supplies,
And says that I shall shortly be
Enthroned with him above the skies:
what a Friend is Christ to me!

IV

But ah! my inmost spirit mourns,
And well my eyes with tears may swim,
To think of my perverse returns;
I’ve been a faithless friend to him.

V

Often my gracious Friend I grieve,
Neglect, distrust, and disobey;
And often Satan’s lies believe
Sooner than all my Friend can say.

VI

He bids me always freely come,
And promises whate’er I ask;
But I am straiten’d, cold, and dumb,
And count my privilege a task.

VII

Before the world, that hates his cause,
My treach’rous heart has throbb’d with shame;
Loath to forego the world’s applause,
I hardly dare avow his name.

VIII

Sure, were not I most vile and base,
I could not thus my Friend requite!
And were not he the God of grace
He’d frown, and spurn me from his sight.