O solemn hour! O hour alone

O solemn hour! O hour alone

In solitary night

When God the Father’s only Son

As Man

for sinners lost

undone

Expires—amazing sight!

The Lord of glory crucified!

The Lord of Life has bled and died!

O mystery of mysteries!

Of life and death the tree!

Center of two eternities

Which look with rapt

adoring eyes

Onward

and back to Thee’

O cross of Christ

where all His pain

And death is our eternal gain.

O how our inmost hearts do move

While gazing on that cross!

The death of the incarnate Love!

What shame

what grief

what joy we prove

That He should die for us!

Our hearts were broken by that cry

“Eli

lama sabachthani!”

Worthy of death

O Lord

we were;

That vengeance was our due;

In grace Thou

spotless Lamb

didst bear

Thyself our sins

and guilt

and fear;

Justice our Surety slew.

With Thee

our Surety

we have died;

With Thee

we there were crucified.

Quickened with Thee with life divine

Raised with Thee from the dead;

Thine Own

now human and divine

Shall with Thee in Thy glories shine

The Church’s living Head!

We

who were worthy but to die

Now with Thee

“Abba Father

” cry.