John Wesley Harding – Jesu, Friend Of Sinners, Hear lyrics

1 JESU, friend of sinners, hear,
Yet once again I pray;
From my debt of sin set clear,
For I have nought to pay;
Speak, O speak, the kind release,
A poor backsliding soul restore!
Love me freely, seal my peace,
And bid me sin no more.

2 For my selfishness and pride
Thou hast withdrawn thy grace,
Left me long to wander wide,
An outcast from thy face;
But I now my sins confess,
And mercy, mercy, I implore;
Love me freely, seal my peace,
And bid me sin no more.

3 Though my sins as mountains rise,
And swell and reach to heaven,
Mercy is above the skies,
I may be still forgiven;
Infinite my sin's increase,
But greater is thy mercy's store;
Love me freely, seal my peace,
And bid me sin no more.

4 Sin's deceitfulness hath spread
A hardness o'er my heart;
But if thou thy Spirit shed,
This hardness shall depart;
Shed thy love, thy tenderness,
And let me feel thy softening power;
Love me freely, seal my peace,
And bid me sin no more.

5 From the oppressive power of sin
My struggling spirit free;
Perfect righteousness bring in,
Unspotted purity;
Speak, and all this war shall cease,
And sin shall give its raging o'er;
Love me freely, seal my peace,
And bid me sin no more.

6 For this only thing I pray,
And this will I require,
Take the power of sin away,
Fill me with pure desire;
Perfect me in holiness,
Thine image to my soul restore,
Love me freely, seal my peace,
And bid me sin no more.