1 I once was a sinner, afar from the Lord,
Afar from the cross of Calvary;
His goodness and mercy the wand’rer restored,
And Jesus saved me.
Refrain:
O glory hallelujah! I’m a sinner saved by grace,
I’ll sing beside the crystal sea,
That He saw me far away, and loved me tho’ astray,
And Jesus saved me.
2 I once was a captive in bondage to sin;
The mighty Redeemer set me free;
His grace is sufficient the vict’ry to win,
And Jesus saves me. [Refrain]
3 I meet with temptation, and trials are mine,
But looking to Him the shadows flee;
He gives me in trouble His comfort Divine,
And Jesus keeps me. [Refrain]
4 Beyond the dark valley, transform’d by His grace,
The King in His beauty I shall see;
And sing while beholding the light of His face,
That Jesus saved me. [Refrain]
Source: New Songs of Praise and Power 1-2-3 Combined #190
Pseudonym: Lidie H. Edmunds.
Eliza Edmunds Hewitt was born in Philadelphia 28 June 1851. She was educated in the public schools and after graduation from high school became a teacher. However, she developed a spinal malady which cut short her career and made her a shut-in for many years. During her convalescence, she studied English literature. She felt a need to be useful to her church and began writing poems for the primary department. she went on to teach Sunday school, take an active part in the Philadelphia Elementary Union and become Superintendent of the primary department of Calvin Presbyterian Church.
Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (… Go to person page >
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