Scripture Verse

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Introduction

portrait
Horatius Bonar
1808–1889

Words: Ho­ra­ti­us Bo­nar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, third ser­ies, 1866, pag­es 83–84.

Music: Ked­ron (Spratt) Ann B. Spratt, in the Book of Com­mon Praise, 1866 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Spratt (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

No, not despairingly
Come I to Thee;
No, not distrustingly
Bend I the knee:
Sin hath gone over me,
Yet is this still my plea,
Jesus hath died.

Ah! mine iniquity
Crimson hath been,
Infinite, infinite—
Sin upon sin:
Sin of not loving Thee,
Sin of not trusting Thee—
Infinite sin.

Lord, I confess to Thee
Sadly my sin;
All I am tell with Thee,
All I have been:
Purge Thou my sin away,
Wash Thou my soul this day;
Lord, make me clean.

Faithful and just art Thou,
Forgiving all;
Loving and kind art Thou
When poor ones call:
Lord, let the cleansing blood,
Blood of the Lamb of God,
Pass o’er my soul.

Then all is peace and light
This soul within;
Thus shall I walk with Thee,
The loved Unseen;
Leaning on Thee, my God,
Guided along the road,
Nothing between.