Scripture Verse

I have a baptism to undergo, and how it consumes Me until it is finished! Luke 12:50

Introduction

portrait
William Cowper (1731–1800)

Words: Will­iam Cow­per, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­iv­er, 1779), Book 2, num­ber 55. Je­sus hast­ing to suf­fer.

Music: York. Me­lo­dy from the Scot­tish Psal­ter, 1615. Har­mo­ny by John Mil­ton, Sr. (1562–1647) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

The Sav­ior, what a no­ble flame
Was kin­dled in His breast:
When hast­ing to Je­ru­sa­lem
He marched be­fore the rest!

Good-will to men and zeal to God,
His ev­ery thought en­gross;
He longs to be bap­tized with blood,
He pants to reach the cross.

With all His suf­fer­ings full in view,
And woes, to us, un­known,
Forth to the task His Spir­it flew,
’Twas love that urged Him on.

Lord, we re­turn Thee what we can!
Our hearts shall sound abroad
Salvation, to the dy­ing Man,
And to the ris­ing God!

And while Thy bleed­ing glo­ries here
Engage our won­der­ing eyes;
We learn our light­er cross to bear,
And hast­en to the skies.