2277.
[Hear, earth and heaven, with wonder hear]
HYMN V.
“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
—Matt. xxvii. 46.
Hear, earth and heaven, with wonder hear,
That deepest note of grief unknown;
What means that strange mysterious prayer?
Can God desert His only Son?
Who heard Him speaking from the skies,
“I always am well-pleased in Thee,”
“My God, my God,” the Favourite cries,
“O why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
Didst Thou forget, Thou Man of Grief,
For whom Thou didst the death sustain?
Thy sore distress is our relief,
Thy loss is our eternal gain.
Didst Thou forget the kind design,
Which made Thee lay aside Thy crown?
That strange excess of love Divine,
Which brought the' incarnate Godhead down?
For whom didst Thou endure the cross?
For whom didst Thou consent to bleed?
Didst Thou not undertake our cause?
Didst Thou not suffer in our stead?
'Twas not for sin which Thou hadst done,
Thy angry Father hid His face;
But on Thy innocence was shown
The vengeance due to Adam's race.
Man, guilty man, by God abhorr'd,
Deserved His utmost wrath to know,
Driven from the presence of the Lord
To regions of eternal woe.
But Thou our sins and curse didst take,
That we might bless'd and holy be;
And Thee Thy Father did forsake,
That He might ne'er abandon me.
Deserted at Thy greatest need,
Thou know'st to pity what I feel:
My God, my God, Thy face is hid;
I wander on in darkness still.
Gross darkness, such as may be felt,
Egyptian night my soul o'erspreads;
My heart within like wax doth melt,
And on Thy cross my nature bleeds.
I taste the bitter cup, and share
Thine agonies and grief unknown,
Till Thou the' accomplishment declare,
And tell my inmost soul, “'Tis done!”
