785    C.M.     J. Hart
The Crucifixion. Ps. 22. 11-18; 69. 19-21

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.