The Crucifixion. Ps. 22. 11-18; 69. 19-21
J. Hart C.M.
1
Oh! what a sad and doleful night
Preceded that day’s morn,
When darkness seized the Lord of light,
And sin by Christ was borne!
2
When our intolerable load
Upon his soul was laid,
And the vindictive wrath of God
Flamed furious on his head!
3
We in our Conqueror well may boast;
For none but God alone
Can know how dear the victory cost,
How hardly it was won.
4
[Forth from the garden fully tried,
Our bruisèd Champion came,
To suffer what remained beside
Of pain, and grief, and shame.
5
Mocked, spit upon, and crowned with thorn,
A spectacle he stood;
His back with scourges lashed and torn;
A victim bathed in blood.
6
Nailed to the cross through hands and feet,
He hung in open view;
To make his sorrows quite complete,
By God deserted too!]
7
Through nature’s works the woes he felt
With soft infection ran;
The hardest thing could break or melt,
Except the heart of man.
8
This day before thee, Lord, we come;
O melt our hearts, or break;
For, should we now continue dumb,
The very stones would speak.
9
[True, thou hast paid the heavy debt,
And made believers clean,
But he knows nothing of it yet,
Who is not grieved at sin.
10
A faithful friend of grief partakes;
But union can be none
Betwixt a heart like melting wax
And hearts as hard as stone;
11
Betwixt a head diffusing blood
And members sound and whole;
Betwixt an agonising God
And an unfeeling soul.]
12
Lord, my longed happiness is full,
When I can go with thee
To Golgotha; the place of skull
Is heaven on earth to me.
