O Dearest Jesus

O dear­est Je­sus

What law hast Thou brok­en

That such sharp sen­tence

Should on Thee be spok­en?

Of what great crime hast

Thou to make con­fess­ion—

What dark trans­gress­ion?

They crown Thy head with

Thorns

they smite

they scourge Thee;

With cru­el mock­ings

To the cross they urge Thee;

They give Thee gall to drink

They still de­cry Thee;

They cru­ci­fy Thee.

Whence come these sor­rows

Whence this mor­tal ang­uish?

It is my sins for

Which Thou

Lord

must lang­uish;

Yea

all the wrath

the woe

Thou dost in­her­it

This I do mer­it.

What pun­ish­ment so strange

Is suf­fered yon­der!

The Shep­herd dies for sheep

That loved to wan­der;

The Mas­ter pays the debt

His serv­ants owe Him

Who would not know Him.

The sin­less Son of God

Must die in sad­ness;

The sin­ful child of man

May live in glad­ness;

Man for­feit­ed his life

And is ac­quit­ted—

God is com­mit­ted.

There was no spot in me

By sin un­taint­ed;

Sick with sin’s poi­son

All my heart had faint­ed;

My hea­vy guilt to hell

Had well-nigh brought me

Such woe it wrought me.

O won­drous love

whose

Depth no heart hath sound­ed

That brought Thee here

by

Foes and thieves sur­round­ed!

All world­ly plea­sures

Heedless

I was try­ing

While Thou wert dy­ing.

O migh­ty King

no time

Can dim Thy glo­ry!

How shall I spread abroad

Thy won­drous sto­ry?

How shall I find some

Worthy gifts to prof­fer?

What dare I of­fer?

For vain­ly doth our hu­man

Wisdom pon­der—

Thy woes

Thy mer­cy

still

Transcend our won­der.

Oh

how should I do aught

That could de­light Thee!

Can I re­quite Thee?

Yet un­re­quit­ed

Lord

I would not leave Thee;

I will re­nounce what­e’er

Doth vex or grieve Thee

And quench with thoughts of Thee

And pray­ers most low­ly

All fires un­ho­ly.

But since my strength will

Nevermore suf­fice me

To cru­ci­fy de­sires

That still en­tice me

To all good deeds

oh

let

Thy Spir­it win me

And reign with­in me!

I’ll think up­on Thy mer­cy

Without ceas­ing

That earth’s vain joys to me

No more be pleas­ing;

To do Thy will shall be

My sole en­de­avor

Henceforth for­ev­er.

Whate’er of earth­ly good

This life may grant me

I’ll risk for Thee; no shame

No cross

shall daunt me;

I shall not fear what man

Can do to harm me

Nor death alarm me.

But worth­less is my sac­ri­fice

I own it;

Yet

Lord

for love’s sake Thou

Wilt not dis­own it;

Thou wilt ac­cept my gift

In Thy great meek­ness

Nor shame my weak­ness.

And when

dear Lord

be­fore

Thy throne in Heav­en

To me the crown of joy

At last is giv­en

Where sweet­est hymns Thy saints

Forever raise Thee

I

too

shall praise Thee.