C. M.

The sufferings of Christ for our salvation.

"Save me, O God, the swelling floods

Break in upon my soul;

I sink, and sorrows o'er my head

Like mighty waters roll.

"I cry till all my voice be gone,

In tears I waste the day:

My God, behold my longing eyes,

And shorten thy delay.

"They hate my soul without a cause,

And still their number grows

More than the hairs around my head,

And mighty are my foes.

"'Twas then I paid that dreadful debt

That men could never pay,

And gave those honors to thy law

Which sinners took away."

Thus in the great Messiah's name,

The royal prophet mourns;

Thus he awakes our hearts to grief,

And gives us joy by turns.

"Now shall the saints rejoice, and find

Salvation in my name;

For I have borne their heavy load

Of sorrow, pain, and shame.

"Grief, like a garment, clothed me round,

And sackcloth was my dress,

While I procured for naked souls

A robe of righteousness.

"Amongst my brethren and the Jews

I like a stranger stood,

And bore their vile reproach, to bring

The Gentiles near to God.

"I came in sinful mortals' stead,

To do my Father's will;

Yet when I cleansed my Father's house,

They scandalized my zeal.

"My fasting and my holy groans

Were made the drunkard's song;

But God, from his celestial throne,

Heard my complaining tongue.

"He saved me from the dreadful deep,

Nor let my soul be drowned;

He raised and fixed my sinking feet

On well-established ground.

"'Twas in a most accepted hour

My prayer arose on high;

And for my sake my God shall hear

The dying sinner's cry.