Hymn #335
Text: 18th Century Italian hymn
Translation: Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
Music: Friedrich Filitz (1804-1860)
Tune name: CASWALL
THE TEXT
Our hymn includes five stanzas of Edward Caswell’s translation of this Italian hymn, the theme of which is the power of the blood of Christ. One of the missing stanzas reads:
Abel’s blood for vengeance
pleaded to the skies;
but the blood of Jesus
for our pardon cries.
This stanza clearly has in view the claim made in Hebrews 12:24, that the blood of Jesus “speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” Other texts alluded to in this hymn include Ephesians 1:6-8 and 1 Peter 1:18-19.
1. Glory be to Jesus,
who, in bitter pains,
poured for me the life-blood
from his sacred veins!
2. Grace and life eternal
in that blood I find;
blest be his compassion
infinitely kind!
3. Blest thro’ endless ages
be the precious stream
which from endless torments
did the world redeem!
4. Oft as earth exulting
wafts its praise on high,
angel hosts rejoicing
make their glad reply.
5. Lift we, then, our voices,
swell the mighty flood,
louder still and louder
praise the precious blood!
THE TUNE
This tune is also known as WEM IN LEIDENSTAGEN.
Below is Andrew Remillard’s rendition of this hymn on piano.