587

The earth did quake. Matt. xxvii.
1 EARTH and heaven bewailing,
The light at mid-day failing,
The sea that sparkled cheerily
Rolling dark waves drearily;
It was an hour of dread,
When the Saviour said
6 Eli, Eli!' from the tree,
'Lord, I yield my soul to Thee.'
2 It was an hour of grieving

To angel and to man;
A quick convulsive heaving
Through nature's bosom ran:
Jehovah, the world's Maker,
Of human pangs partaker;
The God that gave us breath,
Dying for us the death:

It is a sight for gazing eyes,
Theme not for words, but tears and
sighs,

The Saviour's dying agonies.

588. We are verily guilty concerning our

brother. Gen. xlii.

1 YE that pass by, behold the Man,

The Man of griefs and wonders too,
The Lamb slain ere the world began,
Now on His way to die for you.
See how His back the scourges tear,
Unto the bloody pillar bound!
The ploughers make long furrows there,
Till all His body is one wound.

2 In scorn they robe Him, crown, adore;
In spite they rend His robe away:
They crush Him with that burden sore,
They drag Him up the accursed way:
His sacred limbs they stretch, they tear,
With nails they fasten to the wood:
His sacred limbs exposed and bare,
Or only covered with His blood.

3 Behold His temples crowned with thorn, His bleeding hands spread out so wide; His streaming feet transfixed and torn,

The fountain gushing from His side. Where is the King of Glory now?

The everlasting Son of God? The Immortal hangs His languid brow; The Almighty faints beneath His load. 4 Beneath our load He faints and dies:

We filled His soul with pangs unknown; We caused those mortal groans and cries; We slew the Father's only Son.

Yet we through Him who saved the lost,
Our glorious Prophet, Priest, and King,
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
With saints and angels praise may sing.
Amen.

589

It is finished. John xix.

1 HARK, the voice of love and mercy
Sounds aloud from Calvary:
See, the rocks are rent asunder;
Darkness veils the mid-day sky:
'It is finished'
Hear the dying Saviour cry
20 what joy to helpless sinners

These triumphant words afford!
Heavenly blessings without measure
Flow to us through Christ the Lord:
'It is finished:'

Saints, His dying words record. 3 All the types and shadows finished Of the ceremonial law,

Man's redemption now completed, Death and hell no more shall awe: 'It is finished:'

Saints, from hence your comfort draw. 4 Tune your harps anew, ye seraphs; Join the triumph to proclaim; All on earth and all in heaven, Join to praise the Saviour's Name: Alleluia!

Glory to the bleeding Lamb! Amen.

590 He bowed His head, and gave up the

ghost. John xix.

1 WHILE each solemn function high Of that woful mystery

On the Cross Thou deign'st to bear,
Saviour, with most loving care,
Finishing the rite of rites,
Finishing the last of fights,
Finishing life's toilsome race,
Finishing the work of grace;

2 When death's hour is coming fast,
When life's strength is all but past,
When the end Thou goest to meet,
When the task is just complete;
In a word the sum is said;
Thou dost cry ''Tis finished:'
Yea, the Lord is crucified:
Yea, for us the Lamb hath died.
3 Now His precious blood is shed,
Now our souls are ransomèd;
Now is Satan's fury braved;
Christ hath died, and man is saved.

Christ, by cruel hands betrayed,
Christ, for us a captive made,
Christ, upon the bitter tree

Slain for man, all praise to Thee. Amen. 591

It is finished. Matt. xxvii. 1 'Tis finished: O glorious word Last uttered by the dying Lord! Redeemed soul, forget it never, Remember it, O soul, for ever:

Who lived to bless, who died to save thee, said Upon the Cross,—'Tis finished.

2 'Tis finished: upon that tree The Law, the Prophecies, we see

In Jesus' bleeding form fulfilled Even as of old the Father willed: For this great end the Lord of glory bled, That all might know-'Tis finished.

3 'Tis finishèd: the creature owed

A debt he ne'er could pay to God:

Our sins had moved the wrath of
Heaven:

That debt is paid, those sins forgiven. The Son of God hath suffered in our stead,

And we are free:-'Tis finished.

4 'Tis finished: remains there aught For us to finish? Idle thought!

By Him the work was all completed: Its blessings now to all are meted Who with their dying Lord to sin are dead And live to God:-'Tis finished.

5 'Tis finished: the mighty Son

O'er death and hell the victory won: He died, He lives, for our salvation, And we may say with exultation: 'For me my Saviour's precious blood was shed,

And come what will, 'Tis finishèd.' 6 'Tis finished: but ne'er forget Thou owest still, my soul, a debt

Of faith and love to Him who gave thee His life to teach, His death to save thee. Abide in Him who bowed His fainting head With that last word:-'Tis finished. 592

Acquainted with grief. Isa. liii.
1 SING we now, our voice upraising,
Sing the Cross in mournful strain;
Tell the sorrows most amazing,
Tell the agonising pain,
Which the Saviour, God incarnate,
Sinless bore, for sinners slain.

2 He the cruel scourge enduring,
Ransom for our sins to pay,
By His stripes transgressors curing,
Raising those who wounded lay,
Soothed our griefs, and bore our sorrows,
And removed our pains away.

3 He to freedom hath restored us
By the very bonds He bare;
And His sacred wounds afford us
Each a stream of mercy rare;
Pierced by the nails, He draws us

To the Cross, and keeps us there. 4 When His painful life was ended,

From that fount, His wounded side, Blood and water straight descended,

Each a sacramental tide;

One from stain of sin to cleanse us,
One to feed our souls applied.
5 Jesu, may Thy promised blessing
Comfort to our souls afford;
May we, now Thy love possessing,

And at length our full reward,
Ever praise with grateful anthems
Thee our ever-glorious Lord! Amen.

593

By His stripes we are healed. Isa. liii. 10 HEAD and Lord of all creation, Yet humbled unto death for me; My Lord once slain for my salvation, My Saviour, to Thy Cross I flee. From Thee the blood and water flowing Declare Thy power to cleanse and save, Thy love, on guilty men bestowing

Whate'er the pining heart can crave.

2 Grant me to thirst for all the blessing Which from Thy wounds so freely flows:

I come before Thee, Lord, confessing

That Thou alone canst heal my woes. Lord, through Thy sorrows I inherit Forgiveness, grace, and life above: Whate'er I have is from Thy merit,

Thy griefs and pains, Thy dying love. 3 Thy tears of mine the consolation,

Thy death my spirit's peace, I own; Thy Name my purest meditation;

My hope, to bow before Thy throne. Thus, Lord, would I be always living, In blissful union joined to Thee, My Saviour, from Thy fulness giving Thy grace to heal and comfort me.

594

The place of a skull. John xx.

1 WHEN on Sinai's top I see
God descend in majesty
To proclaim His holy law,
All my spirit sinks with awe.
When in ecstasy sublime
Tabor's glorious steep I climb,
At the too transporting light
Darkness rushes o'er my sight.
2 When on Calvary I rest,

God, in flesh made manifest,
Shines in my Redeemer's face,
Full of beauty, truth, and grace.
Here I would for ever stay,
Weep, and gaze my soul away;
Thou art heaven on earth to me,
Glorious, mournful Calvary.

595 God forbid that I should glory, save in

the Cross of Christ. Gal. vi.

1 IN the Cross of Christ we glory: Towering o'er the wrecks of time, All the light of sacred story

Gathers round its head sublime. 2 When the woes of life o'ertake us,

Hopes deceive and fears annoy, Never shall the Cross forsake us, Shining bright with peace and joy. 3 When the sun of bliss is beaming

Light and love upon our way, From the Cross the radiance streaming Adds more lustre to the day. 4 Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, By the Cross are sanctified; Peace is there that knows no measure, Joys that through all time abide. 5 In the Cross of Christ we glory: Towering o'er the wrecks of time, All the light of sacred story

Gathers round its head sublime.

596 1 determined not to know anything

among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 1 Cor. ii.

1 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 Cross of Christ, my God; The earthly things that charm me most

Are dross beside His precious 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 an offering far too small; Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my life, my soul, my all. 5 To Him who gave His Son to die, To Him whose dying bids me live, To Him, the Spirit blest, may I My heart, my life, my spirit give! A men.

597 Neither death nor life shall be able to

separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. viii.

1 JESU, refuge of the weary,
Object of the spirit's love,
Fountain in life's desert dreary,

Saviour from the world above;
O how oft Thine eyes offended
Gaze upon the sinner's fall;
Yet upon the Cross extended

Thou didst bear the pain of all.
2 Do we pass that Cross unheeding,
Breathing no repentant vow,
Though we see Thee wounded, bleeding,

See Thy thorn-encircled brow?
Yet Thy sinless death has bought us

Life eternal, peace, and rest;
Only what Thy grace hath taught us
Calms the sinner's stormy breast.

3 Jesu, may our hearts be burning
With more fervent love for Thee;
May our eyes be ever turning

To Thy Cross of agony;
Till in glory, parted never

From the blessèd Saviour's side,
Graven in our hearts for ever
Dwell the Cross, the Crucified. Amen.

2 The Cross! it takes our guilt away;

It holds the fainting spirit up;
It cheers with hope the gloomy day,
And sweetens every bitter cup;
It makes the coward spirit brave,
And nerves the feeble arm for fight;
It takes the terror from the grave,

And gilds the bed of death with
light;

3 The balm of life, the cure of woe,

The measure and the pledge of love, The sinner's refuge here below,

The angels' theme in heaven above. To God the Father lift your voice, &c.

599 And the people stood beholding.

Luke xxiii.

1 SWEET the moments, rich in blessing,
Which before the Cross we spend,
Life, and health, and peace possessing
From the sinner's dying Friend.
Best we here, for ever viewing
Mercy's streaming fount of blood;
Precious drops, our soul bedewing,
Plead and claim our peace with God.

2 Truly blessed is this station;

Low before His Cross we lie,
While we see divine compassion
Beaming from His earnest eye:
Here we feel our sins forgiven,

While upon the Lamb we gaze,
And our thoughts are all of heaven,
And our hearts o'erflow with praise.
3 For Thy sorrows we adore Thee,

For the pains that wrought our peace;
Gracious Saviour, we implore Thee,
In our souls Thy love increase:
Still in ceaseless contemplation

Fix our hearts and eyes on Thee,

Till we taste Thy full salvation,

And unveiled Thy glories see. Amen.

601

Peace through the blood of His Cross.
Col. i.

1 THE King's bright banners forward go,
The mystery of the Cross to show,
Whereon for us life bore death's pain,
By death to bring us life again:
What time the spear transfixed His side,
Whence water flowed in mystic tide
With holiest blood, that men therein
Might wash them, and be pure from sin.

2 0 Tree, how passing fair, how bright
With royal purple richly dight,
Elect on honoured stem to bear
Those sacred limbs aloft in air!
O blest, on which so widely flung
His body's priceless weight was hung,
The world's dear ransom there to pay,
And bear from hell the spoil away!
3 The Cross, our only hope we hail:

Beneath this sign we must prevail;
The King through this our strength sup-
plies,

Wherein alone our glorying lies.
Blest Trinity, salvation's spring,
Thy praise let every spirit sing:
Thy saving health, O Lord, make known,
And all Thy saints with victory crown.

2 Pledge of our glorious home afar,
Thee, holy sign, with joy we take,
Sign of a peace life cannot mar,

Of just content death cannot shake:
The sign, how truth, once crucified
Now throned in majesty doth reign,
How love is blest and glorified,

Which here on earth was mocked and
slain.

3 Their names are writ in words of light Who here on earth their Lord confessed: They hear the Bridegroom's cry at night, Come to My marriage feast, ye blest. Who then would faint, nor gladly share

In Christ's reproach, in want or pain? The bitterest death who would not dare

With joy, the martyr's crown to gain?

603 See if there be any sorrow like unto

my sorrow. Lam. i.

1 Up to the hill of Calvary

With Christ our Lord ascending,
We deem the Cross our victory,
'Neath which His steps are bending.
What soldier is of generous strain?
One honour let him cherish;
With Christ upon that battle plain
A thousand times to perish.

2 On must the faithful warrior go

Whereso the Chief precedeth;
And all true hearts will seek the foe
Where'er the banner leadeth.
Our highest victory is loss;

No cup hath such completeness
Of gall, but that remembered Cross
Will turn it into sweetness.

3 Doth sickness hover o'er thy head,

In weakness art thou lying?
Behold upon that dismal bed

Thy sick Physician dying!
No member in the holy frame

That there for thee must languish,

But what thy pride hath clothed with shame,

But what thy sin with anguish.

PART II.

4 Have wealth and honour spread their wing
And left thee all unfriended?
See naked on the Cross thy King,

And thy regrets are ended:
The fox hath where to lay his head,
Her nest receives the sparrow:
Thy Monarch for his latest bed

One plank hath, hard and narrow.

5 Thy good name suffers from the tongue
Of tyrants and oppressors?
The Lord, as on the Cross He hung,
Was reckoned with transgressors:
More than the nails and than the spear,
His sacred limbs assailing,
Judæa's children pierced His ear
With blasphemies and railing.

6 Fear'st thou the death that comes to all,
And knows no interceder?
O glorious struggle, thus to fall,

The soldier next the Leader!
Christ went with death to grapple first,

And vanquished him before thee:
His darts then, though he do his worst,
Can win no triumph o'er thee.

7 And, if thy conscience brand each sense
With many a past defilement,
Here, by the fruits of penitence,
Hope thou for reconcilement:
For He, who bowed His holy head,
In death serenely sleeping,
Hath grace on contrite hearts to shed,
And pardon for the weeping.

604 As thou hast believed so be it done unto

thee. Matt. viii.

1 As, when the Hebrew prophet raised The brazen serpent high,

The wounded looked, and straight were healed,

The people ceased to die:

So from the Saviour on the Cross
A healing virtue flows;

And all, who raise the eye of faith,
Are saved from endless woes.

2 Thus may we seek the mercy-seat;
O God, the blessing give:
Help us in faith to look to Thee,

And bid the dying live.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, &c.