Malvern Hills :: :: University of Virginia Library

THIS is the morn, of old predicted,
When Christ, himself an offering made!
This is the hour, with love surpassing,
When he the sinner's ransom paid!
Oh, Earth! the Lord of Glory, see!
Expiring, now, on Calvary!

2

Scenes, which the Saviour's death preceded,
Once more arise! we view! we hear!
The garden of Gethsemane;
The crowd, the swords, the staves, appear!
The bloody sweat! the pang untold!
The traitor, who his master sold!

3

We hear thee, O Divine Redeemer!
For sinners, with thy Father plead!
We see thy late so faithful followers
Desert thee in thy hour of need!
With not one true disciple near,
To soothe thy woe, or wipe thy tear!

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4

We see thee at the bar of Pilate!
We, Peter hear his Lord deny!
And, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Thy scoffing foes, infuriate, cry!
“Be this man's blood!” we hear it said,
“On us, and on our children's head!”

5

Calm as the sheep before her shearer,
We view thee by no threat deterr'd!
We mark thee, smitten! spit upon!
A murderer to thyself preferr'd!
The scarlet robe we see thee wear!
And that contemptuous “hail!” we hear!

6

We view thee set at naught of Herod,
And his imperious men of war!
We see thy brow by thorns encircled,
With many a deep, and bleeding scar!
While some rejoice, and others mourn,
To Calvary we view thee borne!

7

We see thee on the cross extended!
Deriders, and revilers, round!
We view the cruel spear that pierced thee!
Thy life's-blood streaming to the ground!
The nails that fix'd thee to the tree!
The vinegar and gall we see!

8

Amid thy unimagined sufferings,
“Father, forgive!” we hear thee cry!

314

We mark the utterance, “It is finish'd!”
And on that word, for heaven, rely!—
Behold — the porch, the temple, rent!
While darkness clothes the firmament!

9

Here, in this sin-distemper'd region,
Thou trod'st the wine-press all alone;
But now, from earth to heaven ascended,
Thou interced'st before the throne!
Hell, from his pinnacle, is hurl'd!
And thy reward, — a Ransomed World!