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Occom C.P.M.

By Aldo Thomas Ceresa

Key
A minor
Type
Folk hymn
Time signature
6
4
Composed
2012
Text
Samson Occom, 1760

Listen to recordings


Description

Named for Rev. Samson Occom (1723-1792), noted preacher, missionary, and author of the text. A Mohegan, Occom was the first Native American to publish writings in English.


Text

Awak'd by Sinai’s awful sound,
My soul in bonds of guilt I found,
And knew not where to go;
O'erwhelm'd with sin in anguish slain,
The sinner must be born again,
Or sink to endless woe.

Amaz'd I stood, but could not tell
Which way to shun the gates of hell,
For death and hell drew near;
I strove, indeed, but strove in vain;
“The sinner must be born again”
Still sounded in my ear.

But while I thus in anguish lay,
The gracious Savior passed this way,
And felt His pity move;
The sinner, by His justice slain,
Now by His grace is born again;
And sings redeeming love.