Beloved Jesus, what law hast thou broken
That such harsh judgment o'er thee should be spoken?
What is thy guilt? For what crimes apprehended?
Wherein offended?
Why art thou scourged, thy brow with sharp thorns crowned?
Smitten, insulted, by thy friends disowned?
With vinegar and gall thy parched lips plied?
Scorned, crucified?
Do I not know the cause of all these torments?
Oh yes! my guilt hath stained thy holy garments.
Lord Jesus, I this fearful suffering merit,
Yet thou dost bear it.
Thou kindest Shepherd, so thy flock to cherish,
That not the weakest lamb should stray and perish,
To pay his servant's debt the Master suffers,
His dear life offers.
Yes He, the Holy One and Just, committed,
Condemned; and man, frail guilty man, acquitted,
Who long defied his law, him he reclaimeth,
In death redeemeth.
O priceless love, and measureless! The Giver
Of life, a martyr He, us to deliver
From wrath; and on the cross e'en interceding
With wounds all bleeding.
Eternal One, great King of light and glory!
How can I rightly spread the wondrous story
Of sacrifice so pure, that mortals even,
May enter Heaven.
I cannot grasp it, reason is too feeble
To comprehend a love which made thee able,
For mortals thus to suffer every anguish,
Death's sting to vanquish.
Lord, I am all unworthy, sore distressed
With grief, yet is my heart no more oppressed
With sinful lust; from this will I endeavor,
To keep me ever.
But even this is not within my power,
Thy cross must be before me every hour;
Without the guidance of thy Holy Spirit,
I naught can merit.
Unto thy glory I would bring as offering
My all;—no cross, no trial, toil, no suffering,
Not death itself can tempt me now to leave thee,
Or willing grieve thee.
And yet I must still be thy heavy debtor,
How gladly would I come unto thee fitter;
Naught but thy grace and mercy can protect me,
Thou'lt not reject me.
Lord Jesus, when I reach thy kingdom holy;
And stand before thee crowned, my heart then truly
Shall praise the boundless love which hath received me,
Yea died to have me.
—Johann Heermann, 1630.