I AM CHIEF! | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 16, 1861

"I AM CHIEF!"

CHARGE no other man with guilt! I alone his blood have split; Every crime against the Lamb, Charge on me! Lo! here I am Self-convicted,—self-confessed, Chief, alone. Discharge the rest.

Olivet! 'twas I that slept; Slept when watch-hour should be kept, I alone: 'twas not the three: Spare me, O Gethsemane! Though thy sod with bloodlike sweat, For my wicked sloth was wet.

Who 'gainst Peter bringeth blame? Enter there another name; He but thrice: I stood beside, And a thousand times denied. His sin washed in bitter tears; Mine persisted in for years.

Sayest thou,—doubting what I am,— Judas told the Paschal Lamb? Yes! for silver: but they bought Jesus Christ of me for nought. 'Tis no Jew his life assails; 'Tis no Roman drives the nails!

These are sins, not spikes: and those, Those are crimes, not thorns! His woes Mine iniquities. That spear In my heart was forged! And here Pilate, Herod, both were born; Cross, and spike, and spear, and thorn.

Shamed, I own them every one: That black cloud that vails the sun,— (Vails the Father, too, in wrath)— From my soul its blackness hath. Leaves my soul to light and bliss; All have gone from mine to his.

Joy, peace, righteousness divine, All have come from his to mine. Him in my stead; me in his, God accepts. The sonship is Mine; and he,—oh! past belief,— He, not I, appears the Chief.