Awaked by Sinai’s awful sound,
My soul in guilt and thrall I found,
And knew not where to go:
O’erwhelm’d in sin with anguish slain,
“The sinner must be born again,”
Or sink in endless woe.

Amazed I stood, but could not tell
Which way to shun the gates of hell,
For death and hell drew near:
I strove indeed, but strove in vain,
“The sinner must be born again,”
Still sounded in my ear.

When to the law I trembling fled,
It poured its curses on my head.
I no relief could find:
This fearful truth increased my pain,
“The sinner must be born again,”
O’erwhelm’d my tortured mind.

Again did Sinai’s thunders roll,
And guilt lay heavy on my soul,
A vast oppressive load:
Alas, I read, and saw it plain,
“The sinner must be born again,”
Or feel the wrath of God.

The saints I heard with rapture tell
How Jesus conquer’d death and hell,
And broke the fowler’s snare;
But when I found this truth remain,
“The sinner must be born again,”
I sank in deep despair.

But while I thus in anguish lay,
Jesus of Naz’reth passed that way,
And felt His pity move:
The sinner, by His justice slain,
Now by His grace is born again,
And sings redeeming love.

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