PASSION OF CHRIST.

GENERAL.

191

8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7

A lamb goes uncomplaining forth,

The guilt of all men bearing;

’Tis laden with the sin of earth,

None else the burden sharing;

It goes its way, grows weak and faint,

To slaughter led without complaint,

Its spotless life to offer;

Bears shame, and stripes, and wounds, and death,

Anguish and mockery, and saith,

“Willing all this I suffer.”

2. This Lamb is Christ, the soul’s great Friend

And everlasting Savior;

Him, Him God chose sin’s reign to end

And bring us to His favor.

“Go forth, My Son!” He said, “and bail

The children who are doomed to hell

But for Thine intercession.

The punishment is great, and dread

The wrath, but Thou Thy blood shalt shed

And save them from perdition.”

3. “Yea, Father, yea, most willingly

I’ll bear what Thou commandest;

My will conforms to Thy decree,

I do what Thou demandest.”

O wondrous Love, what hast Thou done!

The Father offers up His Son,

The Son, content, descendeth!

O Love, O Love, how strong art Thou!

In shroud and grave Thou lay’st Him low

Whose word the mountains rendeth.

4. Thou lay’st Him, Love, upon the cross,

With nails and spear Him bruising;

Thou slay’st Him as a lamb, His loss

From soul and body oozing;

From body ’tis the crimson flood

Of precious sacrificial blood;

From soul, the strength of anguish.

My gain it is; sweet Lamb to Thee

What can I give, whose love to me

For me doth make Thee languish?

5. Lord, all my life I’ll cleave to Thee,

Thy love fore’er beholding,

Thee ever, as Thou ever me,

With loving arms enfolding.

Yea, Thou shalt be my Beacon-light

To guide me safe through death’s dark night

And cheer my heart in sorrow.

Henceforth myself and all that’s mine

To Thee, my Savior, I consign,

From whom all things I borrow.

6. From morn till eve my theme shall be

Thy mercy’s wondrous measure;

To sacrifice myself to Thee,

My foremost aim and pleasure.

My stream of life shall flow for Thee,

Its steadfast current ceaselessly

In praise to Thee outpouring;

And all that Thou hast done for me

I’ll treasure in my memory,

Thy gracious love adoring.

7. Enlarge, shrine of my heart, and swell,

To thee shall now be given

A treasure that doth far excel

The worth of earth and heaven.

Away with the Arabian gold,

With treasures of an earthly mold!

I’ve found a better jewel.

My priceless treasure, Lord, my God,

Is Thy most holy, precious blood,

Which flowed from wounds so cruel.

8. This treasure ever I’ll employ,

This every aid shall yield me;

In sorrow it shall be my joy,

In conflict it shall shield me;

In joy, the music of my feast,

And when all else has lost its zest,

This manna still shall feed me;

In thirst my drink; in want my food;

My company in solitude,

To comfort and to lead me.

9. Death’s poison cannot harm me now,

Thy blood new life bestoweth;

My Shadow from the heat art Thou,

When noonday’s sunlight gloweth.

When I’m by inward grief opprest,

On Thee my weary soul shall rest,

As sick men on their pillows.

Thou art my Anchor, when by woe

My bark is driven to and fro

On trouble’s restless billows.

10. And when Thy glory I shall see

And taste Thy kingdom’s pleasure,

Thy blood my royal robe shall be

And joy beyond all measure;

It then shall be my glorious crown,

Thus I’ll appear before the throne

Of God and need not hide me;

And shall, by Him to Thee betrothed,

By Thee in bridal garments clothed,

Stand as a bride beside Thee.

Paul Gerhardt, 1653.

192

7, 6, 8 l

Jesus, I will ponder now

On Thy holy Passion;

With Thy Spirit me endow

For such meditation.

Grant that I in love and faith

May the image cherish

Of Thy suffering, pain, and death,

That I may not perish.

2. Make me see Thy great distress,

Anguish, and affliction,

Bonds and stripes and wretchedness

And Thy crucifixion;

Make me see how scourge and rod,

Spear and nails did wound Thee,

How for man Thou diedst, O God,

Who with thorns had crowned Thee.

3. Yet, O Lord, not thus alone

Make me see Thy Passion,

But its cause to me make known

And its termination.

Ah! I also and my sin

Wrought Thy deep affliction;

This the cause alone hath been

Of Thy crucifixion.

4. Grant that I Thy Passion view

With repentant grieving

Nor Thee crucify anew

By unholy living.

How could I refuse to shun

Every sinful pleasure

Since for me God’s only Son

Suffered without measure?

5. If my sins give me alarm

And my conscience grieve me,

Let Thy cross my fear disarm,

Peace of conscience give me.

Grant that I may trust in Thee

And Thy holy Passion.

If His Son so loveth me,

God must have compassion.

6. Grant that I may willingly

Bear with Thee my crosses,

Learning humbleness of Thee,

Peace mid pain and losses.

May I give Thee love for love.

Hear me, O my Savior,

That I may in heaven above

Sing Thy praise forever.

Sigmund von Birken, 1653; A. Crull, tr.

193

L. M.

To Thee, Lord Jesus, thanks we give,

Who diedst for us that we might live

And through Thy holy, precious blood

Hast made us righteous before God.

2. We pray Thee, O true God and Man,

Who wast for our offenses slain:

Save us from everlasting death

And cheer us when we yield our breath.

3. Defend us, Lord, from sin and shame;

Help us by Thine almighty name

To bear our crosses patiently,

To trust in Thy great agony,

4. And thence the full assurance gain

That Thou wilt e’er our Friend remain

And not forsake us in our strife

Until we enter into life.

Chr. Fischer, c. 1568; A. Crull, tr., a.

194

8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8

Jesus, grant that balm and healing

In Thy holy wounds I find,

Every hour that I am feeling

Pains of body and of mind.

Should some evil thought upstart,

Let Thy cross defend my heart,

Show the peril and from sinning

Keep me ere its first beginning.

2. Should some lust or sharp temptation

Prove too strong for flesh and blood,

Let me think upon Thy Passion,

And the breach is soon made good.

Or should Satan make his way

To my heart, O let me say:

“Jesus Christ for me was wounded,”

And the Tempter flees confounded.

3. If the world my heart entices

On the broad and easy road,

Filled with mirth and pleasant vices,

Let me think upon the load

Thou didst once for me endure,

That I flee all thoughts impure,

Banishing each wild emotion,

Calm and blest in my devotion.

4. Yes, whate’er may pain or grieve me,

Let Thy wounds, Lord, make me whole.

When I’m faint, let them revive me,

Granting new life to my soul.

May Thy comfort render sweet

Every bitter cup I meet,

Thou, who by Thy death and Passion

Hast procured my soul’s salvation!

5. O my God, my Rock and Tower!

Grant that in Thy death I trust,

Knowing Death has lost his power

Since Thou trod’st him in the dust.

Savior, let Thine agony

Ever help and comfort me;

Let Thy death be my protection,

Safety, life, and resurrection.

6. Jesus, grant that balm and healing

In Thy holy wounds I find,

Every hour that I am feeling

Pains of body and of mind;

And when I this world must leave,

Grant that, Lord, to Thee I cleave,

In Thy wounds find consolation,

And obtain my soul’s salvation.

J. Heermann, 1644, a.

195

L. M.

Lord Jesus Christ, my Life, my Light,

My Strength by day, my Trust by night,

On earth I’m but a passing guest

And sorely with my sins opprest.

2. Far off I see my fatherland,

Where through Thy blood I hope to stand.

But ere I reach that Paradise,

A weary way before me lies.

3. My heart sinks at the journey’s length,

My wasted flesh has little strength,

My soul alone still cries in me:

“Lord, take me home, take me to Thee!”

4. O let Thy sufferings give me power

To meet the last and darkest hour;

Thy sweat refresh and comfort me,

Thy bonds and fetters make me free!

5. The blows and stripes that fell on Thee

Heal up the wounds of sin in me;

Thy crown of thorns, Thy foes’ mad spite,

Let be my glory and delight.

6. That thirst and bitter draught of Thine

Cause me to bear with patience mine;

Thy piercing cry uphold my soul

When floods of anguish o’er me roll.

7. O let Thy holy wounds for me

Clefts in the rock forever be

Where as a dove my soul can hide

And safe from Satan’s rage abide.

8. And when my lips grow white and chill,

Thy Spirit cry within me still

And help my soul Thy heaven to find

When these poor eyes grow dark and blind.

9. And when my spirit flies away,

Thy dying words shall be my stay.

Let me depart with peaceful brow

When I in death my head shall bow.

10. Thy cross shall be my staff in life,

Thy holy grave my rest from strife;

The winding-sheet that covered Thee,

Oh, let it be a shroud for me!

11. Lord, in Thy nail-prints let me read

That Thou to save me hast decreed,

And grant that in Thy opened side

My troubled soul may ever hide.

12. Since Thou hast died, the Pure, the Just,

I take my homeward way in trust.

The gates of heaven, Lord, open wide

When here I may no more abide.

13. And when the last Great Day shall come

And Thou, our Judge, shalt speak the doom,

Let me with joy behold the light

And set me then upon Thy right.

14. Renew this wasted flesh of mine

That like the sun it there may shine

Among the angels pure and bright,

Yea, like Thyself in glorious light.

15. Ah, then I’ll have my heart’s desire,

When, singing with the angels’ choir,

Among the ransomed of Thy grace,

Forever I’ll behold Thy face!

Martin Behm, 1603.

196

8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7, 7

Christ, the Life of all the living,

Christ, the Death of death, our foe,

Who, Thyself for me once giving

To the darkest depths of woe,

Madest reconciliation

And hast saved me from damnation:

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,

Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

2. Thou, ah! Thou, hast taken on Thee

Bonds and stripes, a cruel rod;

Pain and scorn were heaped upon Thee,

O Thou sinless Son of God!

Thus didst Thou my soul deliver

From the bonds of sin forever.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,

Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

3. Thou hast borne the smiting only

That my wounds might all be whole;

Thou hast suffered, sad and lonely,

Rest to give my weary soul;

Yea, the curse of God enduring,

Blessing unto me securing.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,

Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

4. Heartless scoffers did surround Thee,

Treating Thee with cruel scorn,

And with piercing thorns they crowned Thee;

All disgrace Thou, Lord, hast borne

That as Thine Thou mightest own me

And with heavenly glory crown me.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,

Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

5. Thou hast suffered men to bruise Thee

That from pain I might be free;

Falsely did Thy foes accuse Thee—

Thence I gain security;

Comfortless once Thou didst languish

Me to comfort in my anguish.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,

Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

6. Thou hast suffered great affliction

And hast borne it patiently,

Even death by crucifixion,

Fully to atone for me;

Thou didst choose to be tormented

That my doom should be prevented.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,

Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

E. C. Homburg, 1659.

197

7, 6, 7, 6, 8, 7, 6

When o’er my sins I sorrow,

Lord, I will look to Thee

And hence my comfort borrow

That Thou wast slain for me;

Yea, Lord, Thy precious blood was spilt

For me, O most unworthy,

To take away my guilt.

2. Oh, what a marvelous offering!

Behold! the Master spares

His servants, and their suffering

And grief for them He bears.

God stoopeth from His throne on high;

For me, His guilty creature,

He deigns as man to die.

3. My manifold transgression

Henceforth can harm me none,

Since Jesus’ bloody Passion

For me God’s grace hath won.

His precious blood my debts hath paid;

Of hell and all its torments

I am no more afraid.

4. Therefore I will forever

Give glory unto Thee,

O Jesus, loving Savior,

For what Thou didst for me.

I’ll spend my breath in songs of thanks

For Thy sad cry, Thy sufferings,

Thy wrongs, Thy guiltless death.

5. Lord, let Thy woes, Thy patience,

My heart with strength inspire

To vanquish all temptations

And spurn all base desire.

This thought I fain would cherish most—

What pain my soul’s redemption

Hath Thee, O Savior, cost.

6. Whate’er may be the burden,

The cross here on me laid,

Be shame or want my guerdon,

I’ll bear it with Thine aid.

Give patience, give me strength to take

Thee for my bright example

And all the world forsake.

7. And let me do to others

As Thou hast done to me:

Love all men as my brothers

And serve them willingly,

With ready heart, nor seek my own,

But as Thou, Lord, hast helped us,

From purest love alone.

J. Gesenius, 1646; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

198

11, 11, 11, 5

Beloved Jesus, what law hast Thou broken

That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken?

Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession,

Of what transgression?

2. They crown Thy head with thorns, they smite, they scourge Thee;

With cruel mockings to the cross they urge Thee;

They give Thee gall to drink, they still decry Thee;

They crucify Thee.

3. Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish?

It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish;

Yea, all the wrath, the woe Thou dost inherit,

’Tis I do merit.

4. What strangest punishment is suffered yonder?

The Shepherd dies for sheep that love to wander;

The Master pays the debt His servants owe Him,

Who would not own Him.

5. The sinless Son of God must die in sadness;

The sinful child of man may live in gladness;

Man forfeited his life and is acquitted,—

God is committed.

6. There was no spot in me by sin untainted;

Sick with sin’s poison, all my heart had fainted;

My heavy guilt to hell had well-nigh brought me,

Such woe it wrought me.

7. O wondrous love, whose depth no heart hath sounded,

That brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded!

All worldly pleasures, heedless, I was trying

While Thou wert dying.

8. O mighty King, no time can dim Thy glory!

How shall I spread abroad Thy wondrous story?

How shall I find some worthy gifts to proffer?

What dare I offer?

9. For vainly doth our human wisdom ponder

Thy woes; Thy mercy still transcends our wonder.

Oh, how should I do aught that could delight Thee!

Can I requite Thee?

10. Yet unrequited, Lord, I would not leave Thee;

I will renounce whate’er doth vex or grieve Thee

And quench with thoughts of Thee and prayers most lowly

All fires unholy.

11. But since my own strength never will suffice me

To crucify desires that still entice me,

To all good deeds, oh, let Thy Spirit win me

And reign within me!

12. I think upon Thy mercy without ceasing,

That earth’s vain joys to me no more be pleasing;

To do Thy will shall be my sole endeavor

Henceforth forever.

13. Whate’er of earthly good this life may grant me

I’ll risk for Thee; no shame, no cross, shall daunt me;

I shall not fear what man can do to harm me

Nor death alarm me.

14. But, worthless is my sacrifice, I own it;

Yet, Lord, for love’s sake Thou wilt not disown it;

Thou wilt accept my gift in Thy great meekness

Nor shame my weakness.

15. And when, dear Lord, before Thy throne in heaven

To me the crown of joy at last is given,

Where sweetest hymns Thy saints forever raise Thee,

I, too, shall praise Thee.

From the Latin of Anselm of Canterbury; J. Heermann, † 1647. C. Winkworth, tr., a.

199

7s 6 l

Go to dark Gethsemane,

Ye that feel the Tempter’s power;

Your Redeemer’s conflict see,

Watch with Him one bitter hour;

Turn not from His griefs away,

Learn of Jesus Christ to pray.

2. Follow to the judgment-hall,

View the Lord of life arraigned;

Oh, the wormwood and the gall!

Oh, the pangs His soul sustained!

Shun not suffering, shame, or loss;

Learn of Him to bear the cross.

3. Calvary’s mournful mountain climb;

There, adoring at His feet,

Mark that miracle of time,

God’s own sacrifice complete.

“It is finished!” hear Him cry;

Learn of Jesus Christ to die.

4. Early hasten to the tomb

Where they laid His breathless clay;

All is solitude and gloom,—

Who hath taken Him away?

Christ is risen! He meets our eyes.

Savior, teach us so to rise.

James Montgomery, 1825.

200

C. M.

There is a fountain filled with blood,

Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,

And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,

Lose all their guilty stains.

2. The dying thief rejoiced to see

That fountain in his day;

And there have I, as vile as he,

Washed all my sins away.

3. Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood

Shall never lose its power

Till all the ransomed Church of God

Be saved to sin no more.

4. E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream

Thy flowing wounds supply,

Redeeming love has been my theme

And shall be till I die.

5. Then in a nobler, sweeter song

I’ll sing Thy power to save,

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue

Lies silent in the grave.

W. Cowper, 1771.

201

7, 6, 8 l

O bleeding Head, and wounded,

And full of pain and scorn,

In mockery surrounded

With cruel crown of thorn!

O Head, once crowned with glory

And heavenly majesty,

But now despised and gory;

Yet here I welcome Thee!

2. Men spit upon and jeer Thee,

Thou noble countenance,

Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee

And flee before Thy glance.

How art Thou pale with anguish,

With sore abuse and scorn!

How does Thy visage languish

Which once was bright as morn!

3. Now from Thy cheeks has vanished

Their color once so fair;

From Thy red lips is banished

The splendor that was there.

Pale Death, with cruel rigor,

Bereaveth Thee of life;

Thus losest Thou Thy vigor

And strength in this sad strife.

4. My burden, in Thy Passion,

Lord, Thou hast borne for me,

For it was my transgression

Which brought this woe on Thee.

I cast me down before Thee,

Wrath were my rightful lot;

Have mercy, I implore Thee,

Redeemer, spurn me not!

5. My Shepherd, now receive me!

My Guardian, own me Thine!

Great blessings Thou didst give me,

O Source of gifts divine!

Thy lips have often fed me

With milk and sweetest food;

Thy Spirit oft has led me

To stores of heavenly good.

6. Here I will stand beside Thee,

From Thee I will not part;

O Savior, do not chide me!

When breaks Thy loving heart,

When soul and body languish

In death’s last fatal grasp,

Then, in Thy deepest anguish,

Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

7. Naught ever so much blesses,

So much rejoices me,

As when in Thy distresses

I take a part with Thee.

All, well for me if lying

Here at Thy feet, my Life,

I, too, with Thee were dying

And thus might end my strife!

8. Thanks from my heart I offer

Thee, Jesus, dearest Friend,

For all that Thou didst suffer;

My good didst Thou intend.

Ah! grant that I may ever

To Thy truth faithful be;

When soul and body sever,

May I be found in Thee!

9. When hence I must betake me,

Lord, do not Thou depart!

O nevermore forsake me

When death is at my heart!

When soul and body languish,

O leave me not alone,

But take away mine anguish

By virtue of Thine own!

10. Be Thou my Consolation

And Shield when I must die;

Remind me of Thy Passion

When my last hour draws nigh.

Mine eyes shall then behold Thee,

Upon Thy cross shall dwell,

My heart by faith enfold Thee.

Who dieth thus dies well!

From the Latin of Bernard of Clairvaux; Paul Gerhardt, 1652.

202

L. M.

Enslaved by sin and bound in chains,

Beneath its dreadful tyrant sway,

And doomed to everlasting pains,

We wretched, guilty captives lay.

2. Nor gold nor gems could buy our peace,

Nor all the world’s collected store

Suffice to purchase our release;

A thousand worlds were all too poor.

3. Jesus, the Lord, the mighty God,

An all-sufficient ransom paid.

O matchless price! His precious blood

For vile, rebellious traitors shed.

4. Jesus the sacrifice became

To rescue guilty souls from hell;

The spotless, bleeding, dying Lamb

Beneath avenging Justice fell.

5. Amazing goodness! love divine!

O may our grateful hearts adore

The matchless grace; nor yield to sin,

Nor wear its cruel fetters more!

Anne Steele, † 1778.

GOOD FRIDAY.

203

7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8

O Lamb of God most holy,

Upon the cursed tree slain;

E’er patient, meek, and lowly,

Though heaped with hate and disdain.

All sins Thou borest for us,

Else had despair reigned o’er us,

Have mercy on us, O Jesus!

2. O Lamb of God, most holy,

Upon the cursed tree slain;

E’er patient, meek, and lowly,

Though heaped with hate and disdain.

All sins Thou borest for us,

Else had despair reigned o’er us,

Have mercy on us, O Jesus!

3. O Lamb of God, most holy,

Upon the cursed tree slain;

E’er patient, meek, and lowly,

Though heaped with hate and disdain.

All sins Thou borest for us,

Else had despair reigned o’er us,

Thy peace be with us, O Jesus!

N. Decius, 1526; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

204

L. M.

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of Glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast

Save in the death of Christ, my God;

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

3. See, from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a tribute far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts, 1707, a.

205

7, 7, 6, 7, 7, 8