On man, in his own image
made,
How much did God bestow?
The whole creation homage
paid,
And owned him lord, below!
He dwelt in Eden’s garden,
stored
With sweets for every sense;
And there with his descending
Lord
He walked in confidence.
But O! by sin how quickly
changed!
His honor forfeited,
His heart, from God and
truth, estranged,
His conscience filled with
dread!
Now from his Maker’s voice
he flees,
Which was before his joy:
And thinks to hide, amidst
the trees,
From an all seeing eye.
Compelled to answer to his
name,
With stubbornness and pride
He cast, on God Himself, the
blame,
Nor once for mercy cried.
But grace, unasked, his
heart subdued
And all his guilt forgave;
By faith, the promised seed
he viewed,
And felt His pow’r to save.
Thus we ourselves would
justify,
Though we the law transgress;
Like him, unable to deny,
Unwilling to confess.
But when by faith the
sinner sees
A pardon bought with blood;
Then he forsakes his foolish
pleas,
And gladly turns to God.
