Scripture Verse

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law. Galatians 3:13

Introduction

Words: Ben­ja­min Bed­dome (1717–1795). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship, ed­it­ed by R. Hall (Lon­don: Bur­ton & Briggs, 1817), num­ber 362.

Music: Ab­er Will­iam H. Monk, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1875 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
William Monk (1823–1889)

Lyrics

God’s ho­ly law trans­gressed,
Speaks no­thing but des­pair;
Burdened with guilt, with grief op­pressed,
We find no com­fort there.

Not all our groans and tears,
Nor works which we have done,
Nor vows, nor pro­mis­es, nor pray­ers,
Can e’er for sin atone.

Relief alone is found
In Je­sus’ pre­cious blood;
’Tis this that heals the mor­tal wound,
And re­con­ciles to God.

High lift­ed on the cross,
The spot­less Vic­tim dies;
This is sal­va­tion’s on­ly source,
And hence our hopes arise.