The Two Malefactors

I

Sovereign grace has power alone
To subdue a heart of stone;
And the moment grace is felt,
Then the hardest heart will melt.

II

When our Lord was crucified
Two transgressors with him died!
One, with vile blaspheming tongue,
Scoff’d at Jesus as he hung.

III

Thus he spent his wicked breath
In the very jaws of death;
Perish’d, as too many do,
With the Saviour in his view.

IV

But the other, touch’d with grace,
Saw the danger of his case⁠—
Faith received to own the Lord,
Whom the scribes and priests abhorr’d.

V

“Lord,” he pray’d, “remember me
When in glory thou shalt be!”
“Soon with me,” the Lord replies,
“Thou shalt rest in paradise.”

VI

This was wondrous grace indeed,
Grace vouchsafed in time of need!
Sinners, trust in Jesus’ name,
You shall find him still the same.

VII

But beware of unbelief,
Think upon the harden’d thief;
If the gospel you disdain,
Christ to you will die in vain.