Scripture Verse

The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8

Introduction

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John Wesley (1703–1791)

Words: Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by John Wes­ley, Hymns and Sac­red Po­ems 1740. The Ger­man sourc­es for Wes­ley’s trans­la­tion, all of which ap­peared in Ap­pen­dix 7 to the Mo­ra­vi­ans’ 1735 Herrn­hut Ge­sang­buch:

Music: Bel­oit Karl G. Reis­sig­er (1798–1859) (🔊 pdf nwc).

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Nikolaus L. von Zinzendorf (1700–1760)

Lyrics

I thirst, Thou wounded Lamb of God,
To wash me in Thy cleansing blood,
To dwell within Thy wounds; then pain
Is sweet, and life or death is gain.

Take this poor heart, and let it be
For ever closed to all but Thee!
Seal Thou my breast, and let me wear
That pledge of love for ever there.

How blest are they who still abide,
Close sheltered in Thy bleeding side;
Who life and strength from thence derive,
And by Thee move, and in Thee live.

What are our works, but sin and death,
Till Thou Thy quickening Spi­rit breathe?
Thou giv’st the power Thy grace to move;
O wondrous grace! O boundless love!

How can it be, Thou heavenly King,
That Thou shouldst us to glo­ry bring;
Make slaves the partners of Thy throne,
Decked with a ne­ver-failing crown?

Hence our hearts melt, our eyes o’erflow,
Our words are lost; nor will we know,
Nor will we think of aught beside,
My Lord, my Love, is cru­ci­fied!

Ah! Lord, enlarge our scanty thought,
To know the wonders Thou hast wrought;
Unloose our stammering tongues to tell
Thy love immense, unsearchable.

First-born of many brethren, Thou!
To Thee, lo! all our souls we bow,
To Thee our hearts and hands we give,
Thine may we die, Thine may we live!