148    8.8.6.     J. Berridge
Christ his People’s Surety. Prov. 11. 15; Matt. 27. 29

1 For wretched strangers such as I,
  The Saviour left his native sky,
  And surety would become;
  He undertakes for sinners lost,
  And, having paid the utmost cost,
  Returns triumphant home.

2 A judgment bond against me lay,
  Law charges, too, which he must pay,
  But found a smarting debt.
  The garden scene begins his woes,
  And fetches agonising throes,
  And draws a bloody sweat.

3 His back with hardy stripes is hewed,
  Till flakes of gore, and streams of blood,
  Besmear the frighted ground!
  A scornful and a smarting crown
  His holy head is thrust upon,
  And thorns begird it round.

4 He smarts with nails that pierce his feet,
  And smarts with hanging all his weight
  Upon the accursèd tree!
  He smarts beneath a Father’s rod,
  And roars aloud, “Why, O my God,
  Hast thou forsaken me?”

5 [May all my Saviour’s love and smart,
  Be sweetly graven on my heart,
  And with me fast abide;
  And let me sing thy praises well,
  And love thee more than I can tell,
  And trust in none beside.]