In evil long I took delight,
Unawed by shame or fear,
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopp’d my wild career:
I saw One hanging on a Tree
In agonies and blood,
Who fix’d His languid eyes on me.
As near His Cross I stood.
Sure never till my latest breath,
Can I forget that look:
It seem’d to charge me with His death,
Though not a word He spoke:
My conscience felt and own’d the guilt,
And plunged me in despair:
I saw my sins His Blood had spilt,
And help’d to nail Him there.
Alas! I knew not what I did!
But now my tears are vain:
Where shall my trembling soul be hid?
For I the Lord have slain!
A second look He gave, which said,
“I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid;
I die that thou may’st live.”
Thus, while His death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue,
Such is the mystery of grace,
It seals my pardon too.
With pleasing grief, and mournful joy,
My spirit now if fill’d,
That I should such a life destroy,
Yet live by Him I kill’d!
–John Newton (1725-1807)
Hi Kendall, thanks for posting this. It’s such a wonderful testimony of the transformation in John Newton’s life. I also posted this hymn by John Newton at L&B today, including a link to a modern adaptation of the bymn by Bob Kauflin of Sovereign Grace Music, as well as a sung recording of Newton’s hymn that I dug up in the bowels of the internet. I have no idea who the artist is, but it’s quite a good quality recording and it brings Newton’s words alive.
Here’s the entry:
[url=http://anglicanprayer.wordpress.com/2014/04/18/good-friday-hymns-4-in-evil-long-i-took-delight-john-newton-the-look-adaptation-by-bob-kauflin/]Good Friday Hymn #4: In Evil Long I Took Delight[/url]
It’s quite striking that there are virtually NO recordings of this hymn online anywhere or for purchase at iTunes, etc. If any T19 reader knows of a good recording of the hymn, I’d love to know of it. Please leave a comment on the post at Lent & Beyond linked above.
Praise God that He is able to transform us!
A blessed Triduum and Easter to you, Kendall!
P.S. persistance pays off. It was *REALLY* bothering me to have posted a totally anonymous download at Lent & Beyond. I very much wanted to credit the artist… I kept searching a bit more, and finally found out the singer of the nice version of this hymn I posted at L&B. The artist is a singer-songwriter from Indiana named Phil Kirk.
You can find the track here:
https://soundcloud.com/phil-kirk/in-evil-long-i-took-delight
And more hymns and worship songs from him here.
https://soundcloud.com/phil-kirk