Scripture Verse

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29

Introduction

Words: Charles Wes­ley, Hymns and Sac­red Po­ems (Bris­tol, Eng­land: Fe­lix Far­ley, 1742), pag­es 27–28.

Music: Brom­ley (Lon­don), in the Lon­don Tune Book, be­fore 1895 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

Lyrics

Jesus, great Re­deem­er, hear
A feeble sinner’s cry;
Thou in my behalf appear,
And bring sal­va­tion nigh:
To my Lord what shall I say?
Savior, I of Thee have need;
Take, O take my sins away,
And make me free indeed.

Thee all-lovely as Thou art,
Should I profess to love,
Surely my rebellious heart
The falsehood would disprove:
Thee my heart cannot obey
Till from every evil freed:
Take, O take my sins away,
And make me free indeed.

Should I say, that aught in me
Of God doth now abide,
Self condemned I now should be;
My all is self and pride.
Guilty, guilty must I say,
Nothing, Lord, have I to plead:
Take, O take my sins away,
And make me free indeed.

No desire, or will have I
Thy mercy to embrace;
From Thy arms of love I fly,
And slight Thy proffered grace:
But Thou didst my ransom pay,
But Thy blood for me was shed:
Take, O take my sins away,
And make me free indeed.

Thy sal­va­tion to obtain,
Out of myself I go,
Freely Thou must heal my pain,
Thy unbought mercy show:
For myself I cannot pray;
Let Thy Spi­rit intercede:
Take, O take my sins away,
And make me free indeed.

Not because I willing am,
On me this grace be showed;
But Thou art th’atoning Lamb,
Therefore apply Thy blood;
Therefore, Lord, no more delay,
Therefore heal my soul, and lead;
Take, O take my sins away,
And make me free indeed.