When Jesus claims the sinner's heart

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse


When Jesus claims the sinner's heart
John Newton
11951When Jesus claims the sinner's heartJohn Newton

Satan returning by John Newton

When Jesus claims the sinner's heart,
Where Satan ruled before;
The evil spirit must depart,
And dares return no more.
But when he goes without constraint,
And wanders from his home;
Although withdrawn, 'tis but a feint,
He means again to come.
Some outward change perhaps is seen
If Satan quit the place;
But though the house seem swept and clean,
'Tis destitute of grace.
Except the Savior dwell and reign
Within the sinner's mind;
Satan, when he returns again,
Will easy entrance find.
With rage and malice sevenfold,
He then resumes his sway;
No more by checks to be controlled,
No more to go away.
The sinner's former state was bad,
But worse the latter far;
He lives possessed, and blind, and mad,
And dies in dark despair.
Lord save me from this dreadful end!
And from this heart of mine,
O drive and keep away the fiend
Who fears no voice but thine.