Scripture Verse

He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:15

Introduction

portrait
Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Words: Is­aac Watts, Hymns and Spi­ri­tu­al Songs, Book 1, 1707, num­ber 145, alt. Christ and Aar­on.

Music: St. Fla­vi­an Day’s Psal­ter, 1563 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

Jesus, in Thee our eyes behold
A thousand glories more,
Than all the gems and polished gold
The sons of Aaron wore.

They first their own burnt offerings brought,
To purge themselves from sin;
Thy life was pure without a spot,
And all Thy nature clean.

Fresh blood as constant as the day
Was on their altar spilt;
But Thy one offering takes away
For ever all our guilt.

Their priesthood ran through several hands,
For mortal was their race;
Thy ne­ver changing office stands
Eternal as Thy days.

Once in the circuit of a year,
With blood, but not his own,
Aaron within the veil appears
Before the golden throne:

But Christ, by His own pow­er­ful blood,
Ascends above the skies,
And in the presence of our God
Shows His own sacrifice.

Jesus, the King of glo­ry, reigns
On Sion’s heav’nly hill;
Looks like a lamb that has been slain,
And wears His priesthood still.

He ever lives to intercede
Before His Fa­ther’s face:
Give Him, my soul, thy cause to plead,
Nor doubt the Fa­ther’s grace.