Part 41 (1/2)

Look on him whom they pierced, and mourn.

1 Infinite grief! amazing woe!

Behold my bleeding Lord: h.e.l.l and the Jews conspir'd his death, And us'd the Roman sword.

2 O the sharp pangs of smarting pain My dear Redeemer bore, When knotty whips and ragged thorns His sacred body tore!

3 But knotty whips and ragged thorns In vain do I accuse; In vain I blame the Roman bands, And the more spiteful Jews.

4 'Twere you, my sins, my cruel sins, His chief tormentors were; Each of my crimes became a nail, And unbelief the spear.

5 'Twere you that pull'd the vengeance down Upon his guiltless head: Break, break, my heart, O burst mine eyes!

And let my sorrows bleed.

6 Strike, mighty grace, my flinty soul, Till melting waters flow, And deep repentance drown mine eyes In undissembled woe.

Hymn 2:96.

Distinguis.h.i.+ng love; or, Angels punished and men saved.

1 Down headlong from their native skies The rebel angels fell, And thunderbolts of flaming wrath Pursu'd them deep to h.e.l.l.

2 Down from the top of earthly bliss Rebellious man was hurl'd And Jesus stoop'd beneath the grave To reach a sinking world.

3 O love of infinite degree!

Unmeasurable grace!

Must heaven's eternal Darling die To save a traitorous race?

4 Must angels sink for ever down, And burn in quenchless fire, While G.o.d forsakes his s.h.i.+ning throne To raise us wretches higher?

5 O for this love let earth and skies With hallelujahs ring, And the full choir of human tongues All hallelujah sing.

Hymn 2:97.

The same.

1 From heaven the sinning angels fell, And wrath and darkness chain'd them down; But man, vile man, forsook his bliss, And mercy lifts him to a crown.

2 Amazing work of sovereign grace That could distinguish rebels so!

Our guilty treasons call'd aloud For everlasting fetters too.

3 To thee, to thee, Almighty Love, Our souls, ourselves, our all we pay: Millions of tongues shall sound thy praise On the bright hills of heavenly day.

Hymn 2:98.

Hardness of heart complained of.

1 My heart, how dreadful hard it is!

How heavy here it lies, Heavy and cold within my breast Just like a rock of ice!