The Legion Dispossessed

Legion was my name

by na­ture

Satan raged with­in my breast;

Never mi­se­ry was great­er

Never sin­ner more pos­sessed:

Mischievous to all around me

To my­self the great­est foe;

Thus I was when Je­sus found me

Filled with mad­ness

sin

and woe.

Yet in this for­lorn con­di­tion

When He came to set me free;

I rep­lied to my phy­si­cian

What have I to do with Thee?

But He would not be pre­vent­ed

Rescued me against my will;

Had He stayed ’till I con­sent­ed

I had been a cap­tive still.

Satan

though thou fain would’st have it

Know this soul is none of thine;

I have shed My blood to save it

Now I chal­lenge it for Mine;

Though it long has thee re­sem­bled

Henceforth it shall Me obey;

Thus He spoke

while Sa­tan trem­bled

Gnashed his teeth

and fled away.

Thus my fran­tic soul He heal­èd

Bid my sins and sor­rows cease;

Take

said He

My par­don seal­èd

I have saved thee

go in peace;

Rather take me

Lord

to Heav­en

Now Thy love and grace I know;

Since Thou hast my sins for­giv­en

Why should I re­main below?

Love

He said

will sweet­en la­bors

Thou hast some­thing yet to do:

Go and tell your friends and neigh­bors

What My love has done for you:

Live to ma­ni­fest My glo­ry

Wait for Heav’n a lit­tle space;

Sinners

when they hear thy sto­ry

Will rep­ent and seek My face.