An abject slave I long have been

Verse 1
An abject slave I long have been
To Satan, and the world, and sin,
As by my God forsook,
Who would not to my Saviour stoop,
The burthen of his cross take up,
Or bear his easy yoke.

Verse 2
The difference now I know and feel;
Jesus, to serve thy foes is hell;
But once again forgiven,
O let me find in serving thee
The glorious, perfect liberty,
The happiness of heaven.

Hymnal/Album: Originally titled “Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”—[II. Chron.] xii. 8. Introduced in Charles Wesley, Short Hymns on Select Passages of the Holy Scriptures, Vol. 1 (Bristol: Farley, 1762). Published in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Collected and Arranged by G. Osborn, Vol. 9 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1870), page 210.
Publishing: Public Domain