What laws, my blessed Saviour, hast Thou broken,

That so severe a sentence should be spoken?

How hast Thou ’gainst thy Father’s will contended,

In what offended?

With scourges, blows, and spitting they reviled Thee,

They crown’d thy brow with thorns while King they styled Thee;

When faint with pains thy tortured body suffer’d,

Then gall they offer’d.

Say! wherefore thus by woes wast Thou surrounded?

Ah! Lord, for my transgressions Thou wast wounded:

God took the guilt from me, who should have paid it,

On Thee He laid it.

How strange and marvellous was this correction!

Falls the good Shepherd in his sheep’s protection;

The servants’ debt behold the Master paying,

For them obeying.

The righteous dies, who walked with God true-hearted,

The sinner lives, who has from God departed;

By man came death, yet man its fetters breaketh,

God it o’ertaketh.

Shame and iniquity had whelm’d me over,

From head to foot no good couldst Thou discover;

For this in hell should I, with deep lamenting,

Be aye repenting.

But oh! the depth of love beyond comparing,

That brought Thee down from heaven, our burden bearing!

I taste all peace and joy that life can offer,

Whilst Thou must suffer!

Eternal King! in power and love excelling,

Fain would my heart and mouth thy praise be telling,

But how can man’s weak powers at all come nigh Thee,

How magnify Thee?

Such wondrous love would baffle my endeavour,

To find its equal should I strive for ever:

How should my works, could I in all obey Thee,

Ever repay Thee!

Yet this shall please Thee, if devoutly trying

To keep thy laws, mine own wrong will denying,

I watch my heart, lest sin again ensnare it

And from Thee tear it.

But since I have not strength to flee temptation,

To crucify each sinful inclination,

Oh! let thy Spirit grace and strength provide me,

And gently guide me.

Then shall I see thy grace, and duly prize it,

For Thee renounce the world, for Thee despise it;

Then of my life thy laws shall be the measure,

Thy will my pleasure.

For Thee, my God, I’ll bear all griefs and losses,

No persecution, no disgrace or crosses,

No pains of death or tortures e’er shall move me,

Howe’er they prove me.

This, though at little value Thou dost set it,

Yet Thou, O gracious Lord, wilt not forget it;

E’en this Thou wilt accept with grace and favour,

My blessed Saviour.

And when, O Christ, before thy throne so glorious,

Upon my head is placed the crown victorious,

Thy praise I will, while heaven’s full choir is ringing,

Be ever singing.