Scripture Verse

The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29

Introduction

Words: Charles We­sley, Hymns for Times of Trou­ble and Per­se­cu­tion, se­cond edi­tion, en­larged (Lon­don: Stra­han, 1744), pag­es 7–8.

Music: Ormes­by George Mer­ritt, in The Pri­mi­tive Me­tho­dist Hym­nal, ed­it­ed by George Booth (Lon­don: Pri­mi­tive Me­tho­dist Pub­lish­ing House, 1889), num­ber 46 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Mer­ritt (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

Lyrics

Jesu, sin-atoning Lamb,
Thine utmost pity show;
All the virtue of Thy name
O let Thy rebels know!
Us, by God and man abhorred,
Into Thy kind protection take;
Spare the guilty nation, Lord,
For Thy own mercy’s sake.

Worst of all th’apostate race,
Yet listen to our cry;
Most unworthy of Thy grace,
But without grace we die;
Tophet is our just reward,
Yet snatch us from the burning lake,
Spare the guilty nation, Lord,
For Thy own mercy’s sake.

Scandal of the Chris­tian name,
Which still we vainly bear,
Sodom-like, our sin and shame
We openly declare,
Trample on Thy sacred Word,
And cast Thy laws behind our back;
Spare the guilty nation, Lord,
For Thy own mercy’s sake.

Though Thy judgments are abroad,
Let us Thy goodness prove,
Save us, O all-gracious God,
In honor of Thy love;
Though Thy righteous wrath is stirred,
Arising slow, the earth to shake,
Spare the guilty nation, Lord,
For Thy own mercy’s sake.

In our forty days reprieve
Warn the rebellious race;
Bid us turn, repent, and live
To glorify Thy grace;
O reverse the threatening word,
And do not, do not vengeance take;
Spare the guilty nation, Lord,
For Thy own mercy’s sake.

O alarm the sleeping crowd
And fill their souls with dread;
Then avert the lowering cloud,
Approaching o’er our head;
Turn aside th’invading sword,
And drive the alien armies back,
Spare the guilty nation, Lord,
For Thy own mercy’s sake.