1. Behold the Saviour of mankind Nailed to the shameful tree! How vast the love that Him inclined To bleed and die for thee! 2. Though far unequal our low praise To Thy vast sufferings prove, O Lamb of God, thus all our days, Thus will we grieve and love. 3. Hark, how He groans! while nature shakes, And earth's strong pillars bend; The temple's veil in sunder breaks, The solid marbles rend. 4. 'Tis done! the precious ransom's paid, "Receive my soul," He cries! See where He bows His sacred head! He bows His head, and dies! 5. But soon He'll break death's envious chain, And in full glory shine: O Lamb of God! was ever pain, Was ever love, like thine? 6. Thy loss our ruin did repair; Death by death is slain; Thou wilt at length exalt us where Thou dost in glory reign.
Lyrics: Samuel Wesley, Sr.
Music: Hugh Wilson
Tune: AVON
Meter: C.M.
Samuel Wesley, Sr. (1662–1735)
Samuel Wesley, Sr. was the Anglican pastor in the village of Epworth, England. He was unpopular with the local populace because of his strict doctrinal position on many issues. On the night of 9 February 1709, his crops and home were set on fire by some members of the community. The family, including young John Wesley, narrowly escaped with their lives. Lost in the fire that night was a manuscript of hymns and poems that Samuel Wesley, Sr. had been working on for some time. This one hymn is all that escaped the fire and it is the only known surviving hymn of Samuel Wesley, Sr.