Those who are long time subscribers know that one of my favourite hymn writers is John Newton. His theological insights and pastoral care through his words are a dagger to my heart, a balm to my soul, and an encouragement in my race to press onto Christlikeness. This week leading up to Easter, as we hopefully are aiming to set our hearts on the glory of our Saviour Jesus dying on the cross and being raised again in victory, I hope this hymn will have you consider how trapped and dead we were in our own sin before Christ came to set us free. Enjoy!

The castle of the hu­man heart
Strong in its na­tive sin,
Is guard­ed well, in ev­ery part,
By him who dwells with­in.

For Sa­tan there, in arms, re­sides,
And calls the place his own;
With care against as­saults pro­vides,
And rules, as on a throne.

Each trai­tor thought on him, as chief,
In blind obe­di­ence waits;
And pride, self-will, and un­be­lief,
Are post­ed at the gates.

Thus Sa­tan for a sea­son reigns,
And keeps his goods in peace;
The soul is pleased to wear his chains,
Nor wish­es a re­lease.

But Je­sus, strong­er far than he,
In His ap­point­ed hour
Appears, to set His peo­ple free
From the usurp­er’s pow­er.

“This heart I bought with blood,” He says,
“And now it shall be Mine.”
His voice the strong one armed dis­mays,
He knows he must re­sign.

In spite of un­be­lief and pride,
And self, and Sa­tan’s art;
The gates of brass fly op­en wide,
And Je­sus wins the heart.

The re­bel soul that once with­stood
The Sav­iour’s kindest call;
Rejoices now, by grace sub­dued,
To serve Him with her all.

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