University of Virginia Library

Search this document 

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
expand sectionIV. 
expand sectionV. 
expand sectionVI. 
expand sectionVII. 
expand sectionVIII. 
expand sectionIX. 
expand sectionX. 
collapse sectionXI. 
collapse section 
expand section 
collapse section 
expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
expand sectionIV. 
expand sectionV. 
expand sectionVI. 
expand sectionVII. 
expand sectionVIII. 
expand sectionIX. 
expand sectionX. 
expand sectionXI. 
expand sectionXII. 
expand sectionXIII. 
expand sectionXIV. 
expand sectionXV. 
expand sectionXVI. 
expand sectionXVII. 
expand sectionXVIII. 
expand sectionXIX. 
expand sectionXX. 
expand sectionXXI. 
expand sectionXXII. 
expand sectionXXIII. 
collapse sectionXXIV. 
 1587. 
 1588. 
 1589. 
 1590. 
 1591. 
 1592. 
 1593. 
 1594. 
 1595. 
 1596. 
 1597. 
 1598. 
 1599. 
 1600. 
 1601. 
 1602. 
 1603. 
 1604. 
1604.
 1605. 
 1606. 
 1607. 
 1608. 
 1609. 
 1610. 
 1611. 
expand section 
expand sectionXII. 
expand sectionXIII. 


314

1604.

[What but mercy could impose]

Thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to, &c. —xxiv. 46.

What but mercy could impose
The strange necessity?
Jesus, Lover of Thy foes,
Thy death hath set us free;
Thou hast suffer'd in our stead:
Thy rising and return to heaven
Proves the general debt is paid,
And all mankind forgiven.
Christ to suffer it behoved
By the decree of God,
Guilt could only be removed
Through His atoning blood:
Justice must be satisfied,
Or mercy never could take place:
Christ embraced the terms, and died,
And ransom'd all our race.
Thus, to save us it became
The Majesty Divine;
Thus to magnify His name
All His perfections join:
Truth and love His throne maintain,
And righteousness and grace agree,
Meet in the redeeming plan
With perfect harmony.