We Sing The Praise of Him Who Died

We sing the praise of Him who died,
of Him who died upon the cross;
the sinners hope let men deride,
for this we count the world but loss.

Inscribed upon the cross we see,
in shining letters, 'God is love';
He bears our sins upon the tree;
He brings us mercy from above.

The cross! It takes our guilt away;
it holds the fainting spirit up;
it cheers with hope the gloomy day,
and sweetens every bitter cup.

It makes the coward spirit brave,
and nerves the feeble arm for fight;
it takes the terror from the grave,
and gilds the bed of death with life;

The balm of life, the cure of woe,
the measure and the pledge of love,
the sinner's refuge here below,
the angels' theme in heaven above.

Thomas Kelly, 1769 - 1855.