Written By John Newton
When Adam fell, he quickly lost
God�s image, which he once possessed:
See all our nature since could boast
In Cain, his first-born son, expressed!
The sacrifice the Lord ordained
In type of the Redeemer�s blood,
Self-righteous reasoning Cain disdained,
And thought his own first-fruits as good.
Yet rage and envy filled his mind,
When, with a fallen, downcast look,
He saw his brother favor find,
Who God�s appointed method took.
By Cain�s own hand, good Abel died,
Because the Lord approved his faith;
And, when his blood for vengeance cried,
He vainly thought to hide his death.
Such was the wicked murderer Cain,
And such by nature still are we,
Until by grace we�re born again,
Malicious, blind and proud, as he.
Like him the way of grace we slight,
And in our own devices trust;
Call evil good, and darkness light,
And hate and persecute the just.
The saints, in every age and place,
Have found this history fulfilled;
The numbers all our thoughts surpass
Of Abels, whom the Cains have killed!
Thus Jesus fell�but O! His blood
Far better things than Abel�s cries:
Obtains His murderers peace with God,
And gains them mansions in the skies.
