Nearer, my God, to Thee! Nearer to Thee! Through Word and Sacrament, Thou com’st to me. Thy grace is ever near, Thy Spirit ever here, Drawing to Thee. 2. Ages on ages rolled Ere earth appeared; Yet Thine unmeasured love The way prepared. E’en then Thou yearn’st for me That I might nearer be, Nearer to Thee! 3. Thy Son has come to earth My sin to bear, My every wound to heal, My pain to share. “God in the flesh” for me, Brings me now nearer Thee, Nearer to Thee! 4. Lo! all my debt is paid, My guilt is gone. See! He has ris’n for me, My throne is won. Thanks, O my God, to Thee! None now can nearer be, Nearer to Thee! 5. Welcome, then, to Thy home, Blest One in Three! As Thou hast promised, come! Come, Lord, to me! Work, Thou, O God, through me; Live, Thou, O God, in me, Ever in me! 6. By the baptismal stream, Which made me Thine, By the dear flesh and blood, Thy love made mine, Purge Thou all sin from me That I may nearer be, Nearer to Thee! 7. Surely it matters not What earth may bring, Death is of no account, Grace will I sing. Nothing remains for me Save to be nearer Thee, Nearer to Thee! H. E. Jacobs, 1887. 325 7s 6 l Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and power. 2. Not the labors of my hands Can fulfil Thy Law’s demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone. 3. Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy Cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly,— Wash me, Savior, or I die! 4. While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyelids close in death, When I soar to worlds unknown, See Thee on Thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee! A. M. Toplady, 1776, a. 326 L. M. Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness, My beauty are, my glorious dress; Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed, With joy shall I lift up my head. 2. Bold shall I stand in that great Day, For who aught to my charge shall lay? Fully through these absolved I am From sin and fear, from guilt and shame. 3. The holy, meek, unspotted Lamb, Who from the Father’s bosom came, Who died for me, e’en me t’ atone, Now for my Lord and God I own.