Theology in Verse is a blog which offers ‘Hymns, Sacred Poems, and Other Theological Musings’ from the keyboard of M. Justin Wainscott.
A recent posting featured the hymn Surely Christ Thy Griefs Has Borne, which was written by Augustus Toplady, 1740-1778.
Singing older hymns is important.
The Psalms (and other songs included in the Bible) demonstrate that the cross-generational corporate identity of God’s people is reinforced by their singing of these common songs.
The 23rd psalm, for instance, is more that a personal affirmation of God’s care. In addition to it being inspired Scripture, composed for the praise of God by the Spirit of God (no small thing), it unites generations of God’s people as they give expression to these truths, century after century.
The arrogance of a generation which refuses to affirm their faith in the words of those who have gone before will result in a faith that lacks roots and will only be able to pass on a taste for novelty to those who follow.
A hymn, such as ‘Surely Christ Thy Griefs Has Borne’ may not have continued in widespread popular usage, but it is sound, and serves to help us experience our unity with those Christians who have affirmed these truths before us.
Here’s the lyrics:
1.
Surely Christ thy griefs has borne;
Weeping soul, no longer mourn:
View Him bleeding on the tree,
Pouring out His life for thee;
There thy every sin He bore;
Weeping soul, lament no more.
2.
All thy crimes on Him were laid:
See, upon His blameless head
Wrath its utmost vengeance pours,
Due to my offence and yours;
Wounded in our stead He is,
Bruised for our iniquities.
3.
Weary sinner, keep thine eyes
On th’ atoning sacrifice;
There th’ incarnate Deity,
Numbered with transgressors, see;
There, His Father’s absence mourns,
Nailed and bruised, and crowned with thorns.
4.
See thy God His head bow down,
Hear the Man of Sorrows groan!
For thy ransom there condemned,
Stripped, derided, and blasphemed;
Bleed the guiltless for the unclean,
Made an offering for thy sin.
5.
Cast thy guilty soul on Him,
Find Him mighty to redeem;
At His feet thy burden lay,
Look thy doubts and cares away;
Now by faith the Son embrace,
Plead His promise, trust His grace.
6.
Lord, Thine arm must be revealed,
Ere I can by faith be healed;
Since I scarce can look to Thee,
Cast a gracious eye on me:
At Thy feet myself I lay;
Shine, O shine, my fears away!
The 77 77 77 metre is the same as that of Toplady’s ‘Rock Of Ages’. Tonight at mgpc we sang these words to the tune ‘Toplady’ which was composed by Thomas Hastings. I also thought it would go well with the tune ‘Petra’, but didn’t have a suitable midi file for use.
This YouTube piano rendition of the tune ‘Toplady’ by Chris Fleischer has more that enough stanzas to account for the six verses above. You’ll also not the pianist repeats the last line of each verse.
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